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Tuesday, Dec. 2, 2025

Tifton, Georgia

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TIFTON POSTPONES HOMETOWN HOLIDAYS CHRISTMAS PARADE

HEAVY RAIN EXPECTED THIS WEEKEND

By FRANK SAYLES JR.

Tifton Grapevine

Rain is forecast in Tifton all weekend, causing the City of Tifton to postpone Saturday's Hometown Holidays Celebration.

Instead, the Tifton Christmas Parade will be held at 5 p.m. on the following Saturday, Dec. 13.

Because of Saturday's festival rescheduling, Hometown Holidays carnival rides, ice skating rink, and vendors will not be available Dec.13. The City of Tifton said those festival attractions will be part of a winter celebration sometime later in the season.

The city said the Hometown Holidays Committee "made the final decision to postpone the annual celebration late Tuesday afternoon based upon the latest weather forecasts for Saturday, with many projections showing a 90% chance of precipitation in the afternoon on the 6th. This thoughtful decision was made as early as possible in the week in consideration to the schedule changes and travel arrangements for out-of-state carnival ride and attraction suppliers that planned to be in attendance on Dec. 6."

The rescheduled parade on Dec. 13 follows the traditional route; a parade map will be released in the coming days.

The annual Christmas tree lighting at Tifton City Hall has been set for 6 p.m. this Thursday with free photos with Santa in City Hall from 6-8 p.m. Thursday is Downtown Tifton's Christmas Open House from 5:30-8 p.m. with extended shopping hours, refreshments, and live music.

Still scheduled beginning at 7 p.m. this Saturday is the Tift Theatre for the Performing Arts’ presentation of "A Charlie Brown Christmas: The Musical." The free show runs about 30 minutes and will be repeated three times Saturday evening. The 7 p.m. show has a kids' cast, and the performances at 8 and 9 p.m. will feature an adult cast.

"Holiday cheer is still here in Tifton this year, despite the rainy weather, and we look forward to seeing everyone at our upcoming events and rescheduled parade Saturday, Dec. 13," the City of Tifton said in a press release.

GEORGIA PEANUT COMMISSION NAMES NEW DIRECTOR

By FRANK SAYLES JR.

Tifton Grapevine

The Georgia Peanut Commission (GPC) has named a successor for its longtime director, who is retiring soon.

Taylor Arnold, county executive director for the USDA Farm Service Agency (FSA) in Worth County, will become GPC executive director on Jan. 1.

Current Director Don Koehler, who has served as the Peanut Commission's executive director since 1986, will then be senior executive director until his retirement on July 31.

“We are excited to welcome Taylor Arnold as the next executive director of the Georgia Peanut Commission,” said Joe Boddiford, Peanut Commission board chairman. “Taylor’s passion for agriculture, strategic vision, and proven leadership make him the ideal person to guide the commission into its next chapter. We are confident he will continue building on the strong foundation established under Don Koehler’s leadership.”

Arnold joins GPC with an extensive background in agricultural leadership, farm program administration, and on-the-ground experience in production agriculture. He has served in his current FSA role since 2017, where he managed county office operations, supervised staff, and oversaw the implementation of federal programs supporting farmers.

Arnold directed programs including the Noninsured Crop Disaster Assistance Program, Agriculture Risk Coverage/Price Loss Coverage, Conservation Reserve Program, Livestock Forage Program, and multiple disaster assistance initiatives. He also chaired the District Payment Eligibility and Limitation Review team, ensuring compliance and accuracy across the region.

He has a bachelor of business administration in accounting from Mercer University, where he served as president and vice president of his fraternity, director of judicial affairs for the Interfraternity Council, and volunteered with IRS VITA and Relay for Life.

“I am honored to join the Georgia Peanut Commission and work on behalf of the growers who make Georgia the nation’s leading peanut-producing state,” Arnold said. “I look forward to continuing the commission’s commitment to research, innovation, and industry collaboration. Don Koehler’s impact on this industry is immeasurable, and I am grateful to follow in his footsteps.”

Koehler leaves a legacy of advocacy, partnership building, and significant growth in Georgia’s peanut sector. His leadership helped position Georgia as a global leader in peanut production, research and quality, the GPC said. He is the Peanut Commission's longest serving executive director since its establishment in 1961.

"I am looking forward to our transition and working with Taylor. He brings passion for the farmers, and working with him as executive director starting in January is going to be an honor for me. My new title will be senior executive director but on day one, he is my executive director. My official retirement date is Aug. 1," Koehler said. "As I told my board when I announced my planned retirement to them first, we needed a succession plan, and I didn’t need to die behind my desk without one. My heart has always been and will continue to be with our farmers."

The Georgia Peanut Commission represents more than 4,000 peanut farmers across the state.

TWO FITZGERALD INSURANCE AGENTS CHARGED WITH FRAUD

Tifton Grapevine Staff Reports

The operators of a Fitzgerald insurance agency have been arrested and charged with multiple felony counts of insurance fraud, authorities say.

Michelle Clark "Allie" Joiner is charged with two counts of felony insurance fraud and two counts of felony exploitation of an elderly or disabled adult.

Angela Clark Krause is charged with six felony counts of insurance fraud, authorities say.

An investigation by the Fitzgerald Police Department, the Ben Hill County Sheriff’s Office, and the Georgia Insurance Commissioner’s Office found that numerous clients of Rutherford Insurance Agency in Fitzgerald had paid their vehicle and property insurance premiums to the two women at the agency but the payments were never recorded, leaving the clients uninsured.

Several people claimed on social media that even though they had paid their premiums, they discovered they were uninsured during routine police traffic stops or when they attempted to get car tags renewed.

CHULA MAN NAMED

TIFT FARMER OF YEAR

By FRANK SAYLES JR.

Tifton Grapevine

Russ Griffin of Chula has been named Tift County Farmer of the Year during the annual Agriculture Appreciation Dinner.

The event is sponsored by the Tifton-Tift County Chamber of Commerce and Lasseter Tractor Co.

Griffin and his family owns and operates a sixth-generation family farm involved in the production of cotton, peanuts, pecans, hay, and cattle.

Last year, Griffin was awarded the Tift County Conservationist of the Year by the Middle South Georgia Soil and Water Conservation District.

The Agriculture Appreciation Dinner thanks Tift County farmers and businesses for their efforts in supporting the community and its agricultural industry.

TIFTON-TIFT COUNTY CHAMBER OF COMMERCE RIBBON CUTTING

Blackbird Home Mercantile

377 Main St., Tifton

Dec. 2

TIFTON GRAPEVINE'S CAT OF THE WEEK

"George" came to the animal shelter as a tiny two-week-old kitten and has spent the past few months growing, playing, and charming everyone. Now, at three months old, this once-silly little guy has grown into a handsome kitten with a soft, gray coat and the most beautiful bright blue eyes. George is playful, loving, and would be thrilled to have a cat sibling to share his adventures with. Come visit George and see other pets available for adoption between 1-6 p.m. Mondays through Fridays at the Tift County Animal Shelter on Highway 125 South, or call 229-382-PETS (7387).

TIFTON GETS FEDERAL GRANT TO BEGIN CONSTRUCTION OF AIRPORT

~ DEC. 6, 1934

A $12,300 federal grant was secured to begin construction of an airport in Tifton, according to an announcement on Dec. 6, 1934. Frank Willis, federal relief engineer for Tift County, said the airport would be built just south of Tifton. The grant included clearing and grading the field. Willis said at the time that the airport would be in the shape of an airplane and consist of two runways, each 500 feet wide and 2,500 feet long.

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