Tifton Raises Police Pay

Tuesday, March 19, 2024

Tifton, Georgia

Your Local Digital Newspaper for Tifton and the Greater Tiftarea

478-227-7126 ~ www.tiftongrapevine.com

CITY COUNCIL RAISES PAY FOR POLICE

By FRANK SAYLES JR.

Tifton Grapevine

Most Tifton Police officers just got a $3 per hour pay raise, and starting police salaries have also been increased. Tifton City Council on Monday unanimously approved the raises, which go into effect March 25.

Police Chief Steve Hyman had requested the increases in order to remain competitive with other local law enforcement agencies. The raises are for patrol personnel below the rank of major.

Following the vote, Hyman thanked City Council for "always being committed" to help law enforcement meet challenges.

"You have ensured that our department has the resources and support to carry out our duties effectively," Hyman said. "Thank you for having our backs. The council has always been there for us."

City Council also approved a request by Fire Chief Bobby Bennett to create incentives for public safety personnel with EMT certification, for members of the joint departmental Community Emergency Response Team (CERT), and for those with bilingual abilities.

In other action, City Manager Emily Beeman announced that the Georgia Emergency Management Agency has awarded the city a $896,000 grant for portable and fixed generators to help maintain water and sewer operations during severe storms. A couple of years ago, the city had lost power to some of its wells during a storm.

Beeman said the governor's office has also approved a supplemental Local Maintenance and Improvement Grant (LMIG) for localities to pave roads, and Tifton's allocation will be $333,775. She said a list of additional streets to be paved will be compiled.

Also Monday, council dissolved the city Zoning Board of Appeals and moved its duties to the current city Planning & Zoning Commission. Council appointed Dennis Reese to the P&Z Commission to fill a vacancy.

The city is seeking applicants to fill vacancies on the Library Board and the Keep Tift Beautiful Board.

GBI PROBES DEATH AT IRWIN DETENTION CENTER IN OCILLA

Tifton Grapevine Staff Reports

The Georgia Bureau of Investigation is looking into the death of an inmate Saturday night at the Irwin County Detention Center in Ocilla.

Justin Carl Price, 35, was found dead in a cell by detention center officials, according to authorities. The inmate apparently was not in his cell at the time of his death, but in the cell of another inmate.

Officials attempted life-saving measures until emergency personnel arrived and took the inmate to the hospital, authorities said.

An autopsy is being performed to determine the cause of death.

UNEMPLOYMENT RATE RISES IN TIFT COUNTY

By FRANK SAYLES JR.

Tifton Grapevine

Tift County's unemployment rate rose during January but still was below its jobless rate of a year ago, according to data released Thursday by the Ga. Department of Labor (GDOL).

Tift County's jobless rate rose to 2.7% in January, up from 2.5% in December. One year ago in January, Tift recorded a 3.1% 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 20,791 during the month, which is an decrease of 111 from the previous month, according to GDOL data.

January's jobless rates in area counties versus the previous month's rates were: Turner, 4.0% vs. 3.6%; Worth, 3.1% vs. 2.7%; Irwin, 3.9% vs. 3.7%; Cook, 3.2% vs. 3.2%; Berrien, 4.1% vs. 4.6%; and Ben Hill, 4.7% vs. 4.1%.

Statewide, the January unemployment rate dropped to 3.1%, said Georgia Labor Commissioner Bruce Thompson. Georgia's rate was six-tenths lower than the national jobless rate.

"With low unemployment and a competitive job market, Georgia's workers and employers are thriving together," Thompson said. "Fostering innovation, investing in skills, diversifying our economy, and supporting businesses, especially sectors experiencing hiring and labor challenges, ensures Georgia will remain a hub of opportunity and prosperity for all."

Jackeline "Jackie" Medina, center, is the Tifton Exchange Club's ACE Award recipient. At left is one of her teachers Jeanna Waddell, and at right is counselor Traci Hill – both of Tift County High School. In photo below, Jackie poses with her fiancé Eduardo and daughter Adelina.

EXCHANGE CLUB'S 'ACE' STUDENT OVERCOMES MULTIPLE CHALLENGES

Tifton Grapevine Staff Reports

A Tift County High School senior who has overcome numerous challenges is the Exchange Club of Tifton’s ACE Award recipient.

The ACE or "Accepting the Challenge of Excellence" Award carries a plaque and a $500 scholarship. The recipient represents the Exchange Club of Tifton in the District ACE Award competition.

This year's award recipient Jackeline "Jackie" Medina was nominated by her counselor Traci Hill.

According to the Exchange Club, Jackie was born with a physical and learning disability. She initially lived in a Spanish-speaking home with her mother and siblings while her father was in Mexico. She became the primary caregiver for her siblings, and home life was chaotic. Jackie often felt lost as she changed schools often and had to be held back a grade twice.

In the 10th grade, Jackie became pregnant. Because of a lack of help, Jackie made the tough decision to leave home, moving in with her boyfriend’s family. In her new home, she was treated as one of the family and received encouragement.

But last year, the family lost their home in a fire. For a time, Jackie thought about quitting school in order to work full time. But her counselors and teachers encouraged her to stay in school, and she did.

In May, Jackie will graduate as a merit roll student. She has been involved in dual enrollment courses and completed multiple pathways. She has also been working through the school’s work-based learning program.

Her counselor, Traci Hill, said that Jackie is writing her own story and not letting her past define her. Jackie is thankful for the opportunities she has been given, and is also thankful for her teacher Jeanna Waddell, who has offered advice, help, and encouragement.

Jackie also has the support of her fiancé Eduardo, who is also a senior at Tift County High, and his parents, who have stood by her.

Jackie said that she is working hard now for her daughter Adelina, who turns 2 years old this week: “I want her to have a better future; I want to be the mom for her that I didn’t have.”

Following high school, Jackie plans to attend technical college for a nursing degree. “I will keep going," she said. "This will not go to waste.”

ABAC PLAYERS TO PRESENT ORIGINAL PLAY

Tifton Grapevine Staff Reports

Abraham Baldwin Agricultural College’s Baldwin Players on March 28-30 will present “Never Runs Smooth … Shakespeare on Love,” an original play written by ABAC professor Dr. Brian Ray.

Ray said he wrote the play in 2006, but has since updated, added, and adapted his original work for the spring production.

The play looks at the many ways that love is shown in William Shakespeare's plays through the eyes of four couples as they explore scenes and discuss what they reveal about love. It's a play filled with corny humor and with sappy relationship stories. In the end, Ray believes the audience will agree with Shakespeare’s notion that the course of true love never runs smoothly.

“Writing this play has been a labor of love for me, so perhaps it is fitting that the subject of the play is love,” said Ray. “I am fascinated by the language and ideas in all of William Shakespeare’s plays. I also love the theatre. I enjoyed every minute of seeing this project blossom from a casual conversation with a former colleague about mutual interests into a script of my own words molded around those immortal ones of Shakespeare."

In addition to Ray, who portrays a car salesman named Duke, the cast includes Peter Pinnow, Caroline Evans, and Lauraleigh Shealey-Weeks; ABAC alumni Ryan Norton and Alena Norton; Ezzard Stewart of Fitzgerald; and ABAC student Brooke Tyra.

The production will be in ABAC’s Howard Auditorium beginning at 7 p.m.

ANNUAL FOLKLIFE FESTIVAL CELEBRATES RURAL HERITAGE

Tifton Grapevine Staff Reports

The annual Folklife Festival on April 6 at ABAC's Georgia Museum of Agriculture will be a celebration of South Georgia's rural heritage.

The festival, from 9 a.m.-4 p.m., will offer interactive activities.

The ceremonial firing of the turpentine still is scheduled at 11 a.m. for the Historic Village’s annual turpentine distillation. Visitors get a close view of the age-old process that is central to South Georgia’s cultural heritage.

The museum’s Vulcan steam engine will also be available for train rides through the Historic Village.

Activities include livestock and wildlife encounters, cornbread samples, sawmill demonstrations, and mule plowing. There will also be pine needle basket-making demonstrations, tatting demonstrations, hay rides, and live music. A new event this year, “Past to Present” Historical Dance, will take place from 10 a.m.-4 p.m.

Guests may also visit the antique tractors on display on the cotton gin lawn. The tractors will parade through the Village at noon and 2 p.m.

The museum's art gallery will have a “Lost to the Ages” exhibit featuring the photography of Evey Mercer who preserves the image of vanishing items for future generations. The artist will be present to lead guided gallery tours, give an artist talk, and mingle with attendees during a light reception.

Author Muriel Eden-Paul will spend the day at the turpentiners’ cabin, where she will sign copies of her book, "Song of Jaybird."

And in the Cordell Conference Center, the American Legacy Quilt Show will be underway.

LECTURE SERIES LOOKS AT 'IDEAS'

Tifton Grapevine Staff Reports

The life cycle of ideas is the topic of the next installment of the Jess Usher Lecture Series on April 1 at Abraham Baldwin Agricultural College.

Dr. Jay Baldwin, associate communication professor, will lecture on “How Ideas Have Sex: An Account of Human Communication.”

The presentation will center around communication as a “Darwinian reproductive process” and how ideas struggle for existence. Topics will include how ideas spread in societies with some fading quickly and others becoming more durable.

The lecture is scheduled at 7 p.m. at ABAC’s Howard Auditorium.

TIFTON ELKS LODGE MAKES DONATIONS

Tifton Grapevine Staff Reports

The Tifton Elks Lodge No. 1114 made two recent charitable donations.

The above photo shows a donation being presented to Tony McBrayer for the Peanut Butter & Jesus ministry. From left are Tifton Elks members with McBrayer: Donnie Rice, Jerry Holley, McBrayer, Wanda Davis, and Randy Clements.

The photo below shows a donation being made to The Promise House Ministries. Pictured from left are Elks members Jerry Holley, Wanda Davis, Michael and Becky Meadows of The Promise House Ministries, and Randy Clements.

TIFTON GRAPEVINE'S CAT OF THE WEEK

"Precious," an adorable female kitty, is looking for her new home. Come visit her 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 NAMES NEW CITY MANAGER

~ MARCH 18, 1971

Tifton City commissioners voted unanimously on March 18, 1971, to hire Harry G. Perkins Jr., 36, of Atlanta as city manager effective April 1, 1971. Perkins, who had just received a master's degree in public administration from the University of Georgia, was hired at a salary of $13,500 a year. He succeeded Malcolm Tyson in the position.