Tifton Police Make Burglaries Arrest

Tuesday, March 15, 2022

Tifton, Georgia

478-227-7126 ~ www.tiftongrapevine.com

DEONTE TERRON MACK

FABIAN TERRELL MULLINS

TIFTON POLICE MAKE ARREST, SEEK SUSPECT IN RECENT BURGLARIES

By FRANK SAYLES JR.

Tifton Grapevine

Tifton Police have arrested one suspect and were seeking another Tuesday in connection with a string of recent burglaries in Downtown Tifton.

Deonte Terron Mack, 17, of Tifton, was arrested and placed in the Tift County Jail; warrants have been issued for Fabian Terrell Mullins, 20, of Tifton, who was still at large Tuesday evening, police said.

Both men are charged with the recent burglaries of several businesses: Coldwell Banker, Tifton Best Running, Wisham Jellies, Belle's Day Spa, Southern Massage, Therapeutic Massage & Health Clinic, Johnson Law Office, and a tattoo parlor.

Tifton Police are seeking the public's help in locating Fabian Mullins. Anyone with information is asked to call 911 or the Tifton Police Department at 229-382-3132. Police ask that citizens do not approach the suspect directly but to contact police instead.

Several other local establishments have also been burglarized in recent weeks. Last week, Tifton Police arrested two other Tifton men and charged them with the recent burglary of Tifton's First Baptist Church.

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State Sen. Carden Summers, left, has opposition for the GOP nomination for his seat from Ed Perry, center, and George Woods, right.

SOME INCUMBENTS FACE CHALLENGERS

By FRANK SAYLES JR.

Tifton Grapevine

Several incumbent elected officials will have opposition for their party’s nomination in the upcoming primary election May 24.

Tift County Commissioner Donnie Hester has two opponents for the Democratic nomination for his District 1 seat; Hester will face James Edward Burroughs Jr. and Sharhonda Hunt-Sears for the nomination.

For the Republican nomination for state senator from District 13, which includes Tift County, incumbent Sen. Carden H. Summers of Cordele is being challenged by former state Sen. Ed Perry of Nashville, and political newcomer George Woods of Tifton.

Several other incumbents will face opposition on the November general election ballot. Tift County Commissioner Greg Wood, a Republican in District 6, will face Democrat Rachel Ann Price for the seat.

Congressman Austin Scott, R-Tifton, will be challenged by a Democrat from Warner Robins, Darrius Butler.

Several local elected officials are seeking re-election without opposition. They include:

State Court Judge Herbert Benson; Solicitor General Jason Hoffman; Sam Wright, Tift County Board of Education (BOE) District 5; Jamie Hill, Tift BOE District 4; Pat McKinnon, Tift BOE District 2; Rusty Harrelson, Tift BOE District 6; Tift County Commissioner Stan Stalnaker, District 4; and Tift Commissioner Paul Webb, District 3.

The deadline for registering to vote in the May 24 primary is April 25. For the primary election, early voting begins May 2 and continues through May 20, 8 a.m.-5 p.m., Mondays-Fridays. Saturday voting is scheduled 9 a.m.-5 p.m. on May 7 and 14.

Early voting in Tift County will only be available at the county Board of Elections Office at the corner of Fourth Street and Chesnutt Avenue in Tifton.

EDUCATION FOUNDATION'S NEW ACADEMIC CHAIR FOR GOVERNMENT, ORATORY

By FRANK SAYLES JR.

Tifton Grapevine

The 22nd academic chair to enrich the education of Tift County public school students has been created through the Academic Chair Endowment Program of the Tift County Foundation for Education Excellence (TCFEE).

The Ellwood "Woody" Wagenhorst Legal, Oratorical, and Governmental Studies Chair is endowed to support Tift public school educational endeavors relating to debate/oratory, government, and legal studies, including such activities as debate teams, mock trial teams, model United Nations teams, and forensics.

The TCFEE’s academic chair program, begun in 1993, is designed to enrich education in specific disciplines through creative learning experiences that are not part of the regular curriculum. Those experiences are made possible through funds generated from the academic chairs, usually established in the name of an individual closely identified with the selected area of learning.

Dr. Bret Wagenhorst of Tifton endowed the latest chair in honor of a relative, “Woody” Wagenhorst, who came from humble beginnings in a small town in Pennsylvania and went on to graduate from Princeton University and become a successful football and baseball player, college football coach, personal assistant to a congressman, and accomplished Washington, D.C., lawyer.

He reportedly never forgot his humble roots and believed in giving back to his community.

“He shows how a person can start out from a small town with no connections, and through verbal ability, sharp thinking, hard work and effort, can accomplish better things and get ahead,” said Dr. Wagenhorst.

Woody Wagenhorst was born in Gouldsboro, Pa., in 1863, and studied hard to get through Princeton, where he played both baseball and football. Upon graduation in 1888, he played major league baseball as a third baseman for the Philadelphia Quakers. Shortly thereafter, Wagenhorst accepted the position of head coach of the University of Pennsylvania football team. While at Penn, he enrolled in law school. After graduation he served as private secretary for Pennsylvania Congressman John E. Reyburn, who later was mayor of Philadelphia.

As a lawyer in Washington, D.C., Wagenhorst reportedly argued cases before the U.S. Supreme Court and practiced law until his death in 1946.

TIFT SEES 26 COVID-19 CASES

DURING PAST TWO WEEKS

By FRANK SAYLES JR.

Tifton Grapevine

Tift County reported three confirmed cases of COVID-19 in the past week and no related deaths, according to data from the Ga. Department of Public Health (DPH).

Tift reported a total of 26 positive cases within two weeks. That represents 42 cases per 100,000 population.

During the period, Tift's testing positivity rate was 4.3%.

Tift has recorded a total of 6,269 confirmed cases with 163 deaths, the DPH said.

The state reported 1,355 positive cases Tuesday with 45 additional deaths and 122 new hospitalizations. Georgia reports a total of 1,919,970 cases with 30,485 related deaths, according to the DPH.

The South West District of the General Federation of Women's Clubs, Georgia, installed officers at its meeting in Tifton on Saturday. From left are Shirene Daniell of Tifton, parliamentary advisor; Beth English of Vienna, corresponding secretary; Becky Smith of Tifton, treasurer; Justin Jacobs of Valdosta, recording secretary; Jamie Stewart of Tifton, second vice president; Sonya Aldridge of Moultrie, first vice president; and Lisa Ramsey of Vienna, president.

TIFTON WOMAN'S CLUB &

JR. WOMAN'S CLUB, WIN AWARDS

The Tifton Woman's Club and Tifton Junior Woman's Club took home awards from the South West District meeting of the General Federation of Women's Clubs, (GFWC) Georgia, on Saturday in Tifton.

The Tifton Woman's Club won a 2021 silver award for excelling in its support of domestic violence causes and awareness, the GFWC signature project.

Pictured with the award are club members, from left, Nancy Nehring, Debbie Thompson, Past President Genie McCook, President Jamie Stewart, Waldene Barnhill, and Bonnie Sayles.

The Tifton Junior Woman's Club took first place in all five categories for 2021 junior club district awards. The categories for club volunteer service that the club won are: Arts & Culture, Civic Engagement & Outreach, Education & Libraries, Environment, and Health & Wellness.

These are all areas that the club excelled in making a difference in the community.

GRAB YOUR HELMET & WHEELS!

YMCA BIKE RIDE ON MARCH 26

The Tiftarea YMCA's 12th Annual Tour de Tifton/Ilse Boyette Memorial Bike Ride is scheduled for Saturday, March 26.

Registration on event day opens at 7 a.m., and the mass start begins at 8 a.m.

The ride begins and ends at the YMCA's Hunt Park campus at 1823 Westover Road in Tifton. There will be a beginner’s 11-mile course, intermediate level 24- and 45-mile loops, and 62- and 100-mile century routes for advanced riders (everyone must finish within seven hours).

The routes pass through gently rolling countryside in Tift and surrounding counties. Helmets are required, and children under age 16 must be accompanied by a parent or legal-guardian rider.

The entry fee is $45 through March 21, and $50 on the day of the event. For online registration, Click Here!

All participants will get snacks/drinks at authorized stops along the course and will receive a post-ride meal. Participants completing either of the century courses will receive a special gift.

Proceeds benefit Tiftarea YMCA missions and outreach programs and the Ilse Boyette nurses' book fund at Tift Regional Medical Center. For information, visit www.tiftareaymca.org or call 229-391-9622.

SOUTHWELL ENCOURAGES COLONOSCOPIES TO HELP

PREVENT COLON CANCER

March is Colorectal Cancer Awareness Month, and gastroenterologists with Southwell Gastroenterology encourage residents to become better educated about colorectal cancer.

While colon cancer is the third-leading cause of cancer in the United States, it is preventable: Colon cancer can be detected early and prevented through regular colonoscopies. Studies show that 96% of people who develop colon cancer have an initial development of a small colon polyp, a benign tumor.

“Some polyps will eventually develop into a colon cancer, but the cancer can be prevented if the polyp is removed during a screening procedure,” said Dr. Eric Ward, gastroenterologist with Southwell Gastroenterology Valdosta.

By removing polyps when they are small and benign, colon cancer can be prevented in a large number of patients, he said.

“For years, it was recommended that people begin having colon cancer screenings at age 50, but there is newer evidence to suggest that screenings should be performed sooner. It is now recommended that all average-risk patients now start a colon screening program at age 45,” said Dr. C. Allen Woods, gastroenterologist with Southwell Gastroenterology.

Although only a few insurance companies cover patients to begin having screenings at age 45, Southwell gastroenterologists note a statistic that about 10% of new colon cancers and 25% of new rectal cancers occur in patients who are not yet 50.

Sometimes, more advanced polyps or polyps with cancer may be present that can also be removed with a colonoscopy.

“With advanced technology, we can now remove some of the larger polyps that previously would have required surgery with a procedure called endoscopic mucosal resection at selected gastroenterology centers,” said Dr. George Yared, gastroenterologist with Southwell Medical Gastroenterology in Tifton.

LETTERS TO THE EDITOR POLICY:

Letters must address local issues and are subject to editing for brevity, for libelous statements, and for egregious language.

Include your name, phone number, and address for verification purposes. Email letters to: IHeardIt@tiftongrapevine.com

READER URGES TIFTON TO RELOCATE, REFURBISH HISTORIC STOPLIGHTS

Dear Editor: Tifton owns several classic stoplights, which control traffic at W. Third and Commerce streets, and at 17th Street and S. Central Avenue. The city is lucky to have these historic gems. Once common in cities and towns across the country, they have become quite rare. I know of only one other Georgia city that has any in operation today. Most of our 50 states don’t have a single one left in service.

These signals are still “legal” – still allowed by the federal traffic code – and Tifton wisely replaced their obsolete mechanical controllers a few years ago with new computerized controllers, which gave the lights a new lease on life. I have urged city officials to take two additional actions:

● Refurbish the signals and retrofit them with LED lamps. This would be easy to do and would reduce the signals’ energy consumption by 85%. The energy savings from the LED retrofit would quickly pay for the lights’ restoration.

● Leave the one pair of signals at W. Third and Commerce but relocate the other pair from 17th and S. Central to E. Fourth and Tift Avenue. These lights should all be located in or adjacent to Tifton’s downtown Historic District. They really don’t belong in a non-historic area like 17th and S. Central.

Tifton’s classic four-way stoplights were manufactured around 1960 by the Eagle Signal Co. of Moline, Ill.

Barrett Williams

St. Louis, Mo.

TIFTON GRAPEVINE'S CAT OF THE WEEK

"Cheeto," a male kitty, is among those available for adoption at the Tift County Animal Shelter. To adopt Cheeto and see other pets available, visit the shelter between 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

30 GARMENTS STOLEN FROM TIFT HIGH

~ MARCH 15, 1933

Burglars raided the home economics department of Tifton High School on the evening of March 15, 1933. Stolen were 28 dresses, one apron, and one pair of pajamas. The garments were made by girls in the home economics classes.