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

INTRUDER STABS TIFTON MAN

IN HIS HOME

By FRANK SAYLES JR.

Tifton Grapevine

An intruder apparently looking to steal a Tifton man's car, repeatedly stabbed him Saturday morning in his Chesnutt Avenue home, Tifton Police said.

William "Buddy" Peacock sustained numerous "severe lacerations," and the injuries appeared all over his body – "the most noticeable ones were near his left eye, arms, hands, chest, and back," according to Tifton Police.

Peacock was taken to Tift Regional Medical Center and then transported to a hospital in Macon. He underwent surgery this week "to repair the lacerations on my eyeball and eyelid," Peacock said on social media.

According to Tifton Police, Peacock said he arose between 6 and 7 a.m., opened his window blinds and his kitchen door, leaving the outer glass door locked to his residence in the 1800 block of Chesnutt Avenue. At approximately 7:15 a.m., after making coffee, he opened his kitchen door to go outside when a white male in his 20s appeared and stabbed Peacock with a wide-bladed knife about 18 inches long.

Peacock said he threw his coffee on the assailant, and they tussled in the kitchen, with Peacock ending up on the floor and the assailant on top of him attempting to stab him as Peacock tried to block the jabs.

The victim told police that the intruder said several times that he just wanted Peacock's car, a late-model Lexus ES 350. Peacock told him the car keys were in the bedroom. Peacock was able to run into his bedroom, closing the door and then entering his bathroom, locking the door. Peacock said he escaped through his bathroom window and ran to a neighbor's house.

The assailant was described as a white male approximately 22 to 28 years old, about 5-feet-10-inches tall, with blue eyes and short brown/blond hair. He was clean-shaven except for a possible goatee. He was wearing dark clothing and may have had a dark backpack.

When police arrived, the assailant could not be located. Tifton Police are continuing their investigation.

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LEST WE FORGET

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TIFTON & GA OBSERVE

MEMORIAL DAY

WITH CEREMONIES

By FRANK SAYLES JR,

Tifton Grapevine

Memorial Day is Monday, an unofficial start to the summer season and a solemn day to honor America's deceased service men and women.

Tifton's annual Memorial Day Tribute will be 10 a.m. Monday at Jack Stone Veterans Memorial Park in downtown Tifton. Dr. Langston Cleveland of Southwell's Worksmart Occupational Health Clinic will be the keynote speaker.

Tyron Spearman is the master of ceremonies for the tribute, and Mayor Julie B. Smith will offer the welcome. The Tifton Fire Department will present the colors, and local singer Brenda Shaw will offer the National Anthem and her rendition of "God Bless America."

The Rev. Wayne Roe, retired pastor of Tifton's First Baptist Church, will offer the invocation and benediction; Megan DuBose will play "Taps."

In Ashburn, American Legion Post 98 is hosting a Memorial Day observance at 10 a.m. in Elrod Park. The small town of Dacula in Gwinnett County hosts one of the nation's longest running Memorial Day parades honoring fallen service men and women. That parade begins at 10 a.m. Monday.

The Andersonville National Cemetery will honor the more than 22,000 soldiers buried there. On Saturday, community organizations, including Boy and Girl Scouts, will place flags at each of the graves which date back to the Civil War.

On Sunday, the Memorial Day Observance Ceremony at the Andersonville National Cemetery begins at 1:30 p.m. with the U.S. Army Maneuver Center of Excellence band; the formal program begins at 2 p.m. Sunday. Then on Monday, the Knights of Columbus will hold a special mass in the cemetery at 11 a.m. The public is invited.

The Georgia Department of Veterans Service is also inviting veterans and families to join Memorial Day ceremonies at its state veterans cemeteries. The Georgia Veterans Memorial Cemetery in Milledgeville has a program at 11 a.m. Monday, and the Georgia Veterans Memorial Cemetery at Glennville begins its program at 11:30 a.m. Monday.

Originally called "Decoration Day," the U.S. observance was formalized by a "Memorial Day Order" issued by Grand Army of the Republic in 1868. However, recent scholarship shows that the Memorial Day observance dates to April 1866 when the ladies of Columbus, Ga., lobbied for a clearly defined Memorial Day on which to place flowers on the graves of Civil War dead.

TIFTAREA JOBLESS RATE IMPROVES IN APRIL

By FRANK SAYLES JR.

Tifton Grapevine

The unemployment rate dropped during April throughout the Tiftarea, according to data released Thursday by the Ga. Department of Labor (GDOL).

Tift County's jobless rate was 2.4% in April, down from 2.8% in March. One year ago in April, Tift recorded a 2.4% unemployment rate, according to the GDOL.

Tift County’s labor force – the number of people who are employed or are unemployed and seeking employment – was at 20,801 during the month, which is an increase of 19 from the previous month, according to GDOL data.

April's jobless rates in area counties versus the previous month's rates were: Turner, 3.6% vs. 3.9%; Worth, 3.2% vs. 3.5%; Irwin, 3.1% vs. 3.9%; Cook, 2.7% vs. 3.1%; Berrien, 3.4% vs. 4.0%; and Ben Hill, 3.8% vs. 4.5%.

State Labor Commissioner Bruce Thompson said that Georgia's April unemployment rate was 3.1%, unchanged for the fourth consecutive month. The jobless rate was eight-tenths lower than the national rate.

"Jobs for Georgians is something we take seriously in the Peach State," Thompson said. "With nearly 70,000 jobs added to the economy over the last year, including a whopping 15,000 this past month alone, there are now more opportunities than ever to launch Georgians into high-demand careers that meet industry needs head-on. While the future remains unclear, all signs are pointing toward Georgia as a perennial leader in growing jobs and creating economic opportunity."

Jobs were up by 15,500 (0.3%) over the month and up by 69,900 (1.4%) over the year to 4,967,400, an all-time high.

NOW ILLEGAL IN TIFT TO TIE DOGS TO STATIONARY OBJECTS WITH CHAINS, ROPE

Tifton Grapevine Staff Reports

Tift County Animal Control has announced the immediate implementation of a new tether ordinance that restricts tying dogs on ropes, chains, or other restraints, allowing a maximum tethering period of no more than 12 hours daily.

The ordinance, approved by the Tift County Commission, applies to all residents of Tift County and its cities, and “aims to promote a safer environment for our community and improve the well-being of our animal companions,” according to a press release from Tift County Animal Control. 

“These regulations are designed to reduce the number of bite cases in our community and to ensure the humane treatment of pets,” the release said. It is “a proactive effort" to promote pet safety and responsible pet ownership.

“Tethering to stationary structures will be prohibited, and a trolley system that meets specifications will be required.”

Tift County Animal Control Director Candice Hernandez emphasizes the importance of community cooperation in upholding the ordinance and encourages pet owners to familiarize themselves with the new requirements. 

Effective May 13, it is unlawful "to permanently tether, fasten, chain, tie, or restrain" animals to "houses, trees, fences, garages or any other stationary or highly immobile objects by means of rope, chain, strap, or other physical restraint for the purpose of confinement," except in specified circumstances.

An animal may be tethered to a "trolley system" no more than 12 hours a day, and the trolley system must be securely attached at least 15 feet between two stationary objects. 

The trolley system must be made of galvanized wire, or other composite material, and the tether from the trolley to the dog must be at least 10 feet with no chains allowed. The trolley system must have appropriate stops in place to prevent entanglement and allow dogs to move freely and to lie. The animal must have access to food, water, and shelter at all times while on a tether. 

For more information about the ordinance and its requirements, visit www.tiftcounty.org/departments/animal_control/ or contact Tift County Animal Control at 229-382-7387.

'CALLED TO CARE' A FOSTER CARE SUPPORT MINISTRY

By BONNIE SAYLES

Tifton Grapevine

A bunk bed for a sibling group of three boys going to live with their grandparents; a journey bag of toiletry items; a pair of shoes for a seven-year-old who was wearing her mother’s shoes – these are some of the needs met daily by Called to Care of Tift County.

Executive Director and Founder Laura Maxwell told the Tifton Rotary Club on Wednesday that these needs of children in foster care are referred to Called to Care by DFACS, the Georgia Division of Family and Children Services.

Maxwell started Called to Care, a foster care support ministry in Tift County in 2013. It now serves foster children in 22 counties. 

Needs are often posted on the Called to Care Facebook pages. Since the ministry started, the agency has served a total of 19,000 children who have been affected by foster care, Maxwell said. Last year, 312 children in Tifton were helped, and so far this year 116 have been served. 

Addiction is the main contributor to family instability, Maxwell said: “We are standing ready to serve these children when we are called upon. We have a desperate need for foster parents.”

There are currently 99 children in foster care in Tift and Turner counties and only 10 foster homes that could take a placement.

Maxwell said that a Family Court judge told her that helping families that have not been reported to DFACS is “enabling people that do not have oversight” to get their family situations back on track. She learned that families needing help may actually report themselves to DFACS to get the help they need without necessarily placing their children in the foster-care system. 

The Tifton Rotary Club provides a Thanksgiving dinner each year for the local children in foster care.

Levetta Jefferson, Tifton Exchange Club public safety chair, presents the club's Trooper of the Year Award to Trooper First Class Scott Rigby.

TIFTON EXCHANGE CLUB NAMES TROOPER OF YEAR

Tifton Grapevine Staff Reports

The Exchange Club of Tifton has presented the Trooper of the Year Award to Trooper First Class Scott E. Rigby, who has been with the Georgia State Patrol since May 2017.

Rigby was chosen because of outstanding dedication and dependability, the Exchange Club said.

"He always goes above and beyond to serve his peers and superiors. He is a well-rounded trooper who focuses on department goals. In the past year, he was the leader in traffic stops, contacts made, and citations and warnings," the Exchange Club said.

According to his nomination, Rigby often volunteers to assist other agencies and is a positive role model for other troopers. He was chosen as one of 12 troopers in the state to receive a new Ford Mustang patrol car.

LETTERS WELCOME: The Tifton Grapevine accepts Letters to the Editor on topics of interest to our readership. Letters are subject to editing for length, libel, and inappropriate language.

All letters must include the author's name, along with address and phone number for verification purposes.

TIFTON'S STRONG TOURISM INDUSTRY

TO THE EDITOR: It’s National Travel and Tourism Week, and we are celebrating the tourism industry’s critical role in powering economics, communities, and connections. We want to demonstrate our industry’s crucial importance. Our message is clear: Travel is essential to every community, industry, and the local and U.S. economies.

Tifton is blessed with a strong and vibrant tourism industry. In 2022, we were setting records for travel in our area. Total visitor spending in Tifton/Tift County was almost $186 million. Tourism and travel generated $14.4 million in state and local taxes. So how does that affect you? Because of tourism in Tift County, every household sees $944 in tax savings.

Tourism in Tifton directly generates over 2,000 jobs. Those jobs do not include people who may be indirectly involved in the industry. Tourism-related jobs include lodging, transportation, food and drink, and attractions. And these numbers continue to rise year over year.

Tifton is lucky to have some really great assets to offer to visitors, whether traveling for leisure or business. The UGA Tifton Campus Conference Center is a top-notch meeting facility, centrally located and easy to get to. Our recreation department maintains a very full calendar, balancing local sporting leagues with traveling tournaments of different kinds. A master plan for updating many of the recreation facilities is currently in the works, including renovations at E.B. Hamilton Complex, new pickleball courts, and updates to the in-town fields. These updates could make Tifton the place to come for tournaments.

The Georgia Museum of Agriculture is Tifton’s largest attraction. Last year, they saw about 50,000 visitors come through the gates, whether it was for a field trip or a special event. With live interpreters and hands-on activities, animals and an art gallery, there is really something for everyone in the family to enjoy.

Tifton is also home to a number of festivals and special events. The Rhythm & Ribs BBQ Festival, held every March, continues to grow, drawing in over 20,000 people for a weekend of BBQ competition, entertainment, vendors, and much more. The Arts in Black Festival and La Fiesta del Pueblo are long-running festivals that celebrate culture, food, and music. The Omega Pepper Festival is another annual festival that brings a lot of visitors to town. Other special events include truck and tractor pulls, rodeos, pageants, concerts, plays, and much more.

Tifton’s strategic location in South-Central Georgia is a dramatic asset to the travel economy. Interstate 75 and U.S. Highway 82 create the busiest intersection south of Atlanta with over 50,000 passing through that area daily. U.S. Highway 319, Highway 41, and Highway 125 also provide easy access.

Income received from the motel-hotel tax has steadily increased each year. Occupancy continues to be over 60% in all our hotels (we have 16!), even as the rates have risen. Over 100 restaurants in Tifton, including some really fantastic local spots, feed visitors and local folks.

The Tifton-Tift County Tourism Association is run by a board of directors that are appointed by the City of Tifton, Tift County, Tiftarea Hospitality Association, and Tifton-Tift County Chamber of Commerce. They are Frank Sayles Jr., chairman; Greg Daniel, vice chairman; William Bowen, treasurer; Melody Cowart; John Alec McKinnon; Jonathan Judy; and Pat Welker.

The board, along with the tourism staff they have contracted with, spends a budget of almost $1 million annually.

Tourism is definitely economic development in Tifton and Tift County, and Tifton-Tift County Tourism proudly salutes this economic engine during National Travel and Tourism Week.

Tyron Spearman, Angela Elder, and Rosalie Reeder

Coordinators

Tifton-Tift County Tourism Association

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TIFTON-TIFT COUNTY CHAMBER OF COMMERCE RIBBON CUTTING

ABAC's FOREST LAKES GOLF CLUB

80 Moorman Drive, Tifton

May 17

Statewide influenza data released from the 

Georgia Department of Public Health (DPH) as of week ending May 11:

Since Seasonal Tracking Beginning Oct. 23, 2023:

TOTAL INFLUENZA OUTBREAKS: 198 ............................................... LATEST WEEK: 0

TOTAL METRO AREA HOSPITALIZATIONS: 4,357 ..............................LATEST WEEK: 8

TOTAL INFLUENZA-ASSOCIATED DEATHS: 57 ................................. LATEST WEEK: 0

In Georgia, influenza is not a reportable condition, with the exception of influenza-associated deaths and outbreaks.

YOUR GUIDE

TO ACTIVITIES

THIS WEEKEND

IN THE GREATER TIFTAREA

This Saturday, May 25, is National Wine Day. Wine has been made and consumed around the world for thousands of years. Archaeologists discovered evidence of winemaking in an Armenian cave dating to 4100 B.C., finding cups and jars for holding wine, wine presses, and vats for fermentation, –and even grape seeds and vines. The optimal temperature for storing wine? It's 55 degrees.

SATURDAY, MAY 25

• Wiregrass Farmers Market, 9 a.m.-Noon, Ga. Museum of Agriculture, Tifton
• Enigma Farmers Market, 9 a.m., City Hall, Enigma
• Plein Air Workshop, Tifton Arts Council, 9 a.m., 72 Stripling Jones Road, Chula
• Skate Day at the Park, 4 p.m., Skate Park, Fitzgerald

MONDAY, MAY 27 ~ Memorial Day

• Memorial Day Tribute, 10 a.m., Keynote Speaker: Dr. Langston Cleveland, Jack Stone Veterans Park, Downtown Tifton
• Memorial Day Observance, 10 a.m., Elrod Park, Ashburn

YOUR YARD SALE

HERE!

TO ADVERTISE YOUR RESIDENTIAL

YARD SALE, CONTACT US at 

IHeardIt@tiftongrapevine.com 

or 478-227-7126

Fees are $1 per word, paid in advance

"Lieutenant Dan" is a handsome guy who came to the animal shelter with a leg injury. X-rays, sponsored by Tift Animal Rescue Inc., revealed it was an old injury that had already healed. He will always have a limp, but it doesn’t hinder him. He is a joyful dog who adores people and other dogs. Come visit him and 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).