Tuesday, Nov. 14, 2023

Tifton, Georgia

GrapeNew
478-227-7126 ~ www.tiftongrapevine.com

'FAMILY FEUD' FEATURES FAMILY FROM TIFTON MELTON/MONTGOMERY FAMILY COMPETES AGAIN IN FRIDAY'S TV EPISODE

By BONNIE SAYLES

Tifton Grapevine

The Melton and Montgomery families of Tifton are featured on the "Family Feud" TV show this week – in an episode that aired Tuesday night, Nov. 14. Another episode with the family will air this Friday night, Nov. 17


After watching "Family Feud" with her husband all summer 2022, not to mention for years previously, Precious Melton Montgomery got the idea to apply to be on the show. The contestant family consisted of Precious Melton Montgomery, her husband Dexter Montgomery, her brother Daughtry Melton IV, and their parents Daughtry Melton III and Dr. Victoria Melton.


“I said, ‘We could go on there.’ I looked up the website and applied. We auditioned for it, and out of thousands, our family was chosen,” Montgomery said. “They loved our family so much, they wanted us on the show.”

 

The episodes in which they participated were filmed at studios in Atlanta during March when Montgomery and her husband, both educators, were on spring break. Montgomery teaches second grade at J.T. Reddick Elementary, and her husband teaches music at Northside Elementary in the Tift County School System.


Her family owns and operates Southview Mortuary, where her parents and brother, the Meltons, are funeral directors. 


Daughtry Melton III is a former Tift County commissioner. TV host Steve Harvey called the Daughtry Meltons D-3 and D-4 on the show.

 

The Tifton Grapevine spoke with Montgomery and her mother, Dr. Victoria Melton, on Tuesday before the first episode aired. They were not able to discuss any of the questions or the outcome of their participation, but they did say it was a rewarding experience. 


They stayed at a hotel with other contestants, and a shuttle took them to the studio each morning. Even though they were playing against other contestants, everyone felt like one big family.


“We made friends with all the families,” Montgomery said. One of the families they played against was from Alabama


Being able to interact with host Steve Harvey was one of the highlights, Montgomery said. Other than that, she said, “It felt like we were at home, playing the game, shouting out answers to the questions.”


One big difference was being backstage getting makeup applied. They were allowed to be in the studio audience to watch all the other episodes, Victoria Melton said. 


“During commercial breaks, Steve would come forward and talk with the crowd and give life lessons,” Montgomery said. “Nothing was scripted.”


Harvey would give advice such as what to do and say on a first date, they said. 


“He would make something comical out of things people said,” Melton said. “Our cheeks were hurting from laughing.” 


“The whole experience was worthwhile,” Montgomery said. She said she used to watch the show for years with her aunt who died in 2019. “It never crossed our minds to see if we could try out for the show. She would be proud and happy to see us on it.”


Montgomery said anyone thinking about being on the show should go to familyfeud.com and apply. “Take a shot and go for it!” 


The show conducted the auditions with the family online after the producers looked at their file.

 

As for their qualifications to be selected out of thousands that applied, Montgomery said: “The biggest thing was our enthusiasm and our love for each other – how authentic we could be and how loving we were. That's what got us on the show.”


The next "Family Feud" episode with the Tifton family

airs at 7:30 p.m. Friday on WFXL Fox 31.

A portion of one of the episodes with the Melton-Montgomery family

is posted online:

See Tifton Family Compete on TV's "Family Feud"

MAN NABBED AFTER HIGH-SPEED CHASE, SHOTS FIRED IN TIFT

By FRANK SAYLES JR.

Tifton Grapevine

An Indiana man is jailed and an officer is injured following a high-speed chase through Turner, Tift, Cook, and Lowndes counties Saturday night that included a deputy firing at the suspect in Chula, authorities say.


Nicholas Kemp, 39, of Indiana, is facing numerous charges, including fleeing or attempting to elude a police officer for a felony offense, aggravated assault against a law enforcement officer, reckless driving, speeding at 125 mph in a 70-mph zone, and several other traffic violations, authorities said.


According to the Georgia Bureau of Investigation, at approximately 8 p.m. Saturday, a Turner County Sheriff’s deputy attempted to stop a car for speeding on Interstate 75 South. After a short chase, the driver, later identified as Kemp, took an exit to Chula and stopped at a Dollar General store. 


The deputy located the suspect and attempted to box in his vehicle. However, he was able to drive away, and the Turner County deputy shot at the car but missed, the GBI said.


The suspect continued traveling south on I-75 through Tift and Cook counties and into Lowndes. There, a Lowndes County Sheriff’s deputy attempted to stop the vehicle using a "PIT" (Precision Immobilization Technique) maneuver, a technique that law enforcement personnel use to force a fleeing vehicle to abruptly turn 180 degrees, causing it to stall and stop.


The suspect, however, avoided the maneuver, causing the Lowndes County deputy to flip his patrol car, the GBI said. That deputy was admitted at a local hospital with several injuries, including a dislocated arm and broken nose.


The suspect continued fleeing for approximately a quarter mile away before he was pinned and arrested by other deputies, authorities said.


The Tift County Sheriff’s Office requested the GBI to conduct an independent investigation since the shots were fired in Tift County. The GBI is continuing its investigation, and, once complete, will be turned over to the Tift County Judicial Circuit for review. 

   

This is the 90th incident involving an officer shooting that the GBI has been asked to investigate this year. 

ELECTION BOARD CERTIFIES SPLOST VOTE PASSAGE

By FRANK SAYLES JR.

Tifton Grapevine

The Tift County Board of Elections met Monday, reviewing provisional ballots and officially certifying the results of the Nov. 7 election.


Voter approval of the one-cent Special Purpose Local Option Sales Tax (SPLOST) for capital outlay projects only had one vote added for and one added against the referendum during the certification, with the measure passing with 66.5% of the vote in favor.


A total of 1,396 votes were cast in the referendum, and 928 voted for SPLOST VII while 468 voted against it. The total votes represented 5.68% of the registered voters in the county, according to official results from the Tift County Board of Elections.


In local municipal elections, all candidates were elected without opposition. In the City of Tifton, Mayor Julie B. Smith was elected to a third term; District 4 Councilman M. Jay Hall was re-elected to a second term; and newcomer Michael Franks was elected as District 2 councilman to succeed Jack Folk, who did not seek re-election.


In Ty Ty, three incumbents were re-elected: Jamie Lavender, Council Post 1; Malcolm Kelley, Post 3; and Shirley Strawter, Post 5.


In Omega, Dickie L. Robinson was elected mayor; and Michael E. King, Post 5 councilman, both without opposition.

ABAC FROSH PLACES IN REGION CROSS COUNTRY

Tifton Grapevine Staff Reports

Abraham Baldwin Agricultural College’s Kylie Downs recently became the school’s first cross country runner to place at the Georgia Collegiate Athletic Association (GCAA) Region 17 championships.


She was also named to the GCAA Women’s Cross Country All-Region team.


“It’s really an honor,” said cross country coach Mike Beeman. “This is the second year we’ve had this program, and we’re already very competitive with top established teams within the region.”


Only the top five finishers in the men’s and women’s competition earned All-Region status. Downs placed fifth in the 5-kilometer race held at the Council Farms course in Milledgeville.


Downs, a freshman from Adel, has been running for eight years and credits her high school coach with encouraging her to attend ABAC. During her prep career, she was Cook High’s first individual region champion in the sport.


Downs said she didn’t know where she had placed while competing in the regionals, but she realized it must have been in the top five when she saw Beeman shouting in celebration.


“My goal was just to get faster every time,” she said.

Tift County DUI-Drug Court staffers who recently attended the Conference of Accountability Courts are, from left, Assistant Solicitor Matt Ruberson, Probation Supervisor Darrien Teals, Judge Herbert Benson, Treatment Provider Steve Cooksey, DUI Court Coordinator Michelle Calhoun, and Surveillance Officer Lt. Renee King.

TIFT DUI COURT NAMED

GA MODEL DUI COURT

Tifton Grapevine Staff Reports

The Tift County DUI-Drug Court has been named a "Model DUI Court" for the 2024-2026 period, awarded by the Georgia Council of Accountability Court Judges.


The "Model Court" program is designed to highlight and celebrate the exceptional work of accountability courts across the state and to identify exemplary programs that can serve as mentors and role models for other courts striving for excellence.


The Tift County DUI-Drug Court has demonstrated a commitment to upholding the highest standards of justice and accountability, earning the recognition through rigorous evaluation and peer review processes.


The DUI-Drug Court program in Tift County has consistently met and exceeded the state's standards. The court's comprehensive interventions for individuals struggling with substance-use disorder and addiction is said to have resulted in positive outcomes for participants and the community.


“We are immensely proud to be recognized as a 'Model DUI Court' by the Georgia Council of Accountability Court Judges," said Judge Herbert W. Benson, who presides over the Tift County DUI-Drug Court.


"This acknowledgment is a testament to the hard work and dedication of our team, and it underscores our commitment to delivering justice while supporting the rehabilitation and recovery of individuals in our care,” Benson said.


The Tift County DUI-Drug Court program began in 2017, and its staff, in addition to Benson, consists of Program Coordinator Michelle Calhoun, Solicitor Jason Hoffman, Assistant Solicitor Matt Ruberson, Public Defender John Mobley, Treatment Provider Steve Cooksey, Probation Officer Darrien Teals,  Surveillance Officer Lt. Renee King, and Case Manager Pat Ponder.


The Tift County program serves as a resource for individuals facing DUI charges and struggling with issues relating to substance-use disorder. By providing intensive supervision, treatment, and support, the court aims to reduce recidivism and help participants achieve lasting recovery.


The "Model Court" designation not only honors the Tift County DUI-Drug Court but also sets it apart as a leader in accountability court programs. As a recognized Model Court, Tift County's program will now serve as a mentor for other courts across the state, sharing best practices, insights, and expertise.

WALK THIS WAY ... FOR COOKIES

Tifton Grapevine Staff Reports


Peace Lutheran Church hosts its annual Cookie Walk on Saturday, Nov. 18, from 9 a.m.-noon at the church's Fellowship Hall, 604 Tennessee Drive, Tifton.


Homemade cookies, cakes, breads, pies, and German pastries will be available for the upcoming holidays.


Money raised from the Cookie Walk will be used to support the Ruth's Cottage Hope for Kids project, for The Bridge to help battered women, and to purchase USO "Phone Calls Home" that allows military service members to hear their loved ones' voices from thousands of miles away.

TIFTON GRAPEVINE'S CAT OF THE WEEK

"Confetti" is an adorable kitty looking for a good family. Come visit her at the Tift County Animal Shelter and see other pets available for adoption between 1-6 p.m. Mondays through Fridays at the shelter on Highway 125 South, or call 229-382-PETS (7387).

TIFTON TELEPHONE LINES

CONNECTING TO NEARBY CITIES

~ NOV. 17, 1899

Plans were set on Nov. 17, 1899, for erecting telephone lines from Tifton to the Capt. J.L.L. Phillips Mill above "Cycloneta." From there, Tifton would be connected to the Ashburn telephone line, which was connected to Cordele and Americus; from there, telephone connections would be made to Macon and Atlanta. "Cycloneta" was a model farm that Tifton founder Henry H. Tift had established north of town and which he later donated for an agricultural experiment station. It eventually led to the development of the Coastal Plain Experiment Station and Abraham Baldwin Agricultural College.

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