Photo by Frank Sayles Jr.

Jimmy and Jennifer Cole, owners of Cole's Cakery on Tifton’s Main Street, are receiving the U.S. Small Business Administration's Georgia Rural Small Business of the Year award.

TIFTON BAKERY NAMED GA RURAL SMALL BUSINESS OF YEAR

By FRANK SAYLES JR.

Tifton Grapevine

The U.S. Small Business Administration (SBA) has named Cole’s Cakery in Downtown Tifton as Georgia's Rural Small Business of the Year, one of the 2023 National Small Business Week Award winners announced by the Georgia SBA.

National Small Business Week is April 30 to May 6; the Georgia award winners will be honored during an awards luncheon on Thursday in Atlanta.

"We are so honored to have been nominated for and chosen to receive this award,” said Cole’s Cakery owners Jimmy and Jennifer Cole.

"We really never dreamed that something like this could happen to us. We are seeing the goodness of God in our business and are thankful for His faithfulness,” they told the Tifton Grapevine.

The Coles had met while attending seminary. In 2013, to generate extra income, they began making custom cakes from home.

In 2018, the Coles purchased an established bakery operation in Tifton because their home business had constantly grown.

“Cole’s Cakery is primarily a custom-order shop; we can do just about anything. We carry a large variety of cupcakes, baked goods, and ice cream. We also carry seven kinds of chicken salad, in addition to pimento cheese and pasta salads,” said Jimmy Cole.

"We just acquired a bakery truck that will be an extension of our store, providing goods for festivals and special events.”

Cole told the Small Business Development Center (SBDC) at UGA that “we like to see smiling faces, beginning with our employees and ending with the customer. We hope to create an atmosphere of fun for our employees, which translates to creating tasty treats for happy customers.”

The Coles’ business advice: “Listen to your customers; they know what they want and enjoy.”

This has been a big year for Cole’s Cakery. In February, the bakery was presented the Rotary of Club of Tifton’s Ethics in Business Award at the Tifton-Tift County Chamber of Commerce’s annual awards banquet.

As part of National Small Business Week, the U.S. Small Business Administration highlights the impact of top entrepreneurs, small business owners ,and others from all 50 states .

Also being honored this week in Georgia are:

• Georgia Small Business Person of the Year: Ken Taunton, president & owner, The Royster Group Inc.
• Georgia Exporter of the Year: Diaa Ghaly, managing director, Trans Globe LLC
• Georgia Family-owned Small Business of the Year: Todd and Tonya Reed, owners, Henry Plumbing Co. of Savannah
• Georgia Minority-owned Small Business of the Year: Wilson Tomala, president, Paul Davis Restoration of North Atlanta
• Georgia Veteran-owned Small Business of the Year: John Bostain, president, Command Presence LLC
• Georgia Woman-owned Small Business of the Year: Latha Ravi, president, The Flying Locksmiths – South Atlanta 

Korea.net photo

South Korea President Yoon Suk Yeol, right, presents the Taegeuk Order of Military Merit to Col. Ralph Puckett Jr. of Tifton, left, and Navy Capt. Elmer Royce Williams last week in Washington, D.C.

TIFTON’S PUCKETT, U.S. VETERANS MADE TODAY'S SOUTH KOREA POSSIBLE

SOUTH KOREA’S PRESIDENT SAYS

By FRANK SAYLES JR.

Tifton Grapevine

During his visit to Washington, D.C., last week, South Korea President Yoon Suk Yeol honored U.S. Army Col. Ralph Puckett Jr., a Tifton native, and two other U.S. Korean War veterans as "heroes and our true friends who made the Republic of Korea of today possible,” referring to South Korea's formal name.

At a luncheon April 25, President Yoon awarded Korea's highest military order to Puckett, U.S. Navy Capt. Elmer Royce Williams, and the late 1st Lt. Baldomero Lopez of the U.S. Marine Corps.

"If it had not been for the sacrifice of Korean War veterans, the Republic of Korea of today would not exist," Yoon said, adding that “the Korean War is not the forgotten war but a victorious war, and a war that must be remembered,” reported Yonhap, the South Korean news service.

During the Korean War, Tifton’s Puckett commanded the Eighth Army Ranger Company and fought off several waves of Chinese attackers after they captured Hill 205, a strategic location during the Battle of the Chongchon River in November 1950. He was wounded in battle but refused to be evacuated; he later spent nearly a year in the hospital.

Puckett was awarded the Army’s Distinguished Service Cross after the battle. In May 2021, President Biden presented Puckett with the Congressional Medal of Honor, America’s highest award for valor. Tifton has named its Victory Drive for Puckett.

During last week’s luncheon in Washington celebrating the 70th anniversary of the U.S.-South Korean alliance, Yoon conferred his country’s Taegeuk Order of Military Merit to Puckett, Williams, and, posthumously, to Lopez.

Williams was recognized for his solo dogfight with seven Soviet pilots in November 1952 over Korea; Lopez was recognized for smothering a hand grenade with his body during the Incheon Landing in September 1950, saving the lives of his men.

"The Korea-U.S. alliance forged in blood has built the most successful and powerful alliance relationship in the world over the past 70 years," Yoon said.

"We will forever remember the dedication and friendship of all of you who fought together for the Republic of Korea's freedom.”

TIFTON BARTENDER SENTENCED TO FEDERAL PRISON FOR DRUG DISTRIBUTION

Tifton Grapevine Staff Reports

A Mexican citizen who was distributing large amounts of fentanyl and methamphetamine while working as a bartender in Tifton has been sentenced to more than seven years in federal prison, says the U.S. Attorney's Office.

Edgar Fernando Neri, also known as “Colocho," 22, of Guadalajara, Mexico, was sentenced last week to serve 87 months in prison to be followed by three years of supervised release. He previously pleaded guilty to one count of distribution of meth.

According to court documents, GBI agents developed a confidential source in August 2021 who had information about the distribution of methamphetamine in Tifton. The confidential source had been purchasing drugs from a local bartender known as "Colocho.”

During the investigation, Neri discussed moving pounds of methamphetamine, multiple kilos of cocaine, as well as the purchase of body armor, rifles, a rocket launcher, and rockets with his supplier in Los Angeles, Calif.

Multiple controlled purchases of meth were made from Neri, and he arranged for shipments of more meth and fentanyl pills from his L.A. source, authorities said.

Packages containing three pounds of methamphetamine and 1,990 blue fentanyl pills were sent from Neri’s source in L.A. to Tifton in October 2021; Neri was taken into custody on Oct. 19, 2021.

Neri is being held responsible for distributing 1,290.93 grams of meth, based on the high level of purity of the methamphetamine involved, and 1,990 pills containing fentanyl and weighing 205.92 grams.

“This defendant posed a clear and present danger to the Tifton community by dealing in dangerous drugs, including discussions of firearms trafficking,” said Robert J. Murphy, special agent in charge of the U.S. Drug Enforcement Administration’s Atlanta Field Division.

“Thanks to collaborative partnerships between the DEA and its law enforcement partners, this defendant no longer poses a threat to Tifton and elsewhere.”

AREA STUDENTS RECEIVE POSITIVE ATHLETE AWARDS

By FRANK SAYLES JR.

Tifton Grapevine

Several area student-athletes have been honored with Georgia Positive High School Athlete awards.

Positive Athlete is a recognition program that celebrates high character in high school student-athletes and coaches who have overcome difficult circumstances, given back to their schools and communities in a significant way, or have an infectious positive attitude that makes everyone around them a better person. 

Every year since 2016, more than 5,000 student-athletes and coaches have been nominated for recognition from more than 425 Georgia high schools.

Among those awarded for 2023 are:

Volleyball – Kylei Cutts of Tift County High School

Wrestling – Donterrius Whitaker of Tift County High School

Boys Soccer – Conner Mullen, Worth County High School

Girls Multi-Sport – Ann Catherine Walker, Tiftarea Academy

Boys Track & Field – Carter Cook, Tiftarea Academy

Cheer & Gymnastics – Emma Bush, Cook County High School

ABAC RECEIVES $434,000 NURSING GRANT

Tifton Grapeviine Staff Reports

Abraham Baldwin Agricultural College has been awarded a $434,000 nursing grant from the Georgia Board of Health Care Workforce.

ABAC is one of 16 schools awarded such grants; the goal is to help combat the nursing and healthcare shortage by increasing the number of graduating nurses. Data from the U.S. Bureau of Health Workforce ranks Georgia as having the fifth-lowest nurse-to-state population ratio in the nation.

ABAC is using the grant to support pre-nursing instruction in anatomy and physiology, and microbiology classes. President Tracy Brundage said the grant mirrors the college’s mission.

“With everything we do and in every way we can, our main focus is always preparing our students to succeed in their chosen field,” she said. “This grant will help provide the tools to do that in a direct way."

Modern basic lab equipment and instructional aids for nursing labs are being purchased, which will familiarize students with equipment used in standard hospital lab settings.

The grant will also allow the purchase of anatomical models for labs and micropipette equipment, a microtome, and fluorescence microscope for microbiology classes.

NEW APARTMENTS OPEN TO REVITALIZE SOUTH TIFTON

Tifton Grapevine Staff Reports

The City of Tifton and IDP Properties recently cut the ribbon to open Nine Oaks Apartments at 310 Old Omega Road in Tifton.

The apartments are part of the city’s strategy to bring quality, safe, and affordable housing to south Tifton.

"IDP is proud to partner with the City of Tifton to revitalize an important area of the city,” said Rhett Holmes, IDP Properties president.

“Transformation begins with a step,” said Mayor Julie B. Smith. “We are very thankful that IDP was the partner. … They listened, planned, worked, and delivered.”

The name of the complex, Nine Oaks, is in memory of the nine children who died in a bus accident in 1959. Nine oak trees were planted at the entrance of the property in memory of those youths.

Nine Oaks has 56 apartment units consisting of one, two, and three bedrooms. The community features a playground, community garden, and computer center.

TIFTON KICKS OFF OLDER AMERICANS MONTH

Tifton Grapevine Staff Reports

Tifton and Tift County kicked off Older Americans Month (OAM) on Tuesday during a luncheon at Leroy Rogers Senior Center with music by Brent Saunders and door prizes from many local businesses. 

More OAM activities this month include two Game Days at 2-4:30 p.m. on Mondays, May 8 and 21, at First Baptist Church followed by Dutch Dinners out. On Wednesday, May 10, Senior Bowling takes place from 1-3 p.m. at Tift County Lanes.

Bingo and Desserts will be at 11 a.m. Thursday, May 11, and an Old School Groove Party with J.J. Jackson will be 10 a.m. Wednesday, May 17, both at Leroy Rogers Senior Center.

A Pizza Party with games will be 11:30 a.m. Thursday, May 18, again at the senior center.

On Tuesday, May 23, a Sock Hop Musical Bingo with snacks will be 2:30-3:30 p.m., and Mindful Medication and Aging Unbound Luncheon will be held 11:30 a.m. Thursday, May 25, both at Leroy Rogers Senior Center.

The Grand Finale Luncheon and George A. Wright Memorial Award Presentation will be at 11:30 a.m. Wednesday, May 31, at First Baptist Church Ministry Center.

The theme for Older Americans Month 2023 is Aging Unbound.

Other regular monthly activities for seniors at the Leroy Rogers Senior Center include Senior-cise at 9 a.m. Mondays, Tuesdays, and Thursdays, and Line Dancing at 9 a.m. every Wednesday. Chair Yoga is held at 10:15 a.m. Mondays and Wednesdays. 

LITERACY VOLUNTEERS TO HOLD GED INFO SESSION THURSDAY AT BATEMAN CENTER

Literacy Volunteers of Tifton-Tift County is sponsoring a GED Information Session at 5:30-6:30 p.m. Thursday, May 4, at the Anthony G. Bateman Youth Center, 511 W. 17th St., Tifton.

Anyone interested in the steps to obtain the General Education Diploma may register by calling 229-391-2527 or emailing tiftlv@gmail.com. The first 10 people to register will be placed on a list to be served dinner at the event. 

TIFTON GRAPEVINE'S CAT OF THE WEEK

“Lady Gray” is among the adorable pets available for adoption at the Tift County Animal Shelter. To adopt Lady Gray and to see other pets available, visit the shelter between 1-6 p.m. Mondays through Fridays, or call 229-382-PETS (7387).

2 ABAC STUDENTS JAILED AFTER ATTEMPTED 'PANTY RAID'

~ MAY 2, 1968

Two Abraham Baldwin Agricultural College students were jailed on disorderly conduct charges May 2, 1968, following an apparent attempt of a “panty raid’ on the college campus involving about 50 male students.

The incident was "just spring activity and the generaI urge of college students toward prankishness,” commented Dr. Ray Swords, dean and coordinator of student personnel services.

Tifton Grapevine

e-published every Tuesday and Friday

Frank Sayles Jr.

Editor & Publisher

Bonnie Sayles

Managing Editor