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A "field of flags" outside the Tifton Fire Station on Forrest Avenue honors those who died in the 9/11 terrorist attacks. In the photo below, the Tifton Fire Department Honor Guard participates in Tifton's ceremony.

U.S., TIFTON REMEMBER 9/11

By FRANK SAYLES JR.

Tifton Grapevine

Thursday was a solemn day across the nation as Americans observed Patriot Day in memory of the terrorist attacks on Sept. 11, 2001.

Thursday marked 24 years since 9/11 when 2,977 people died in the attacks on New York's World Trade Center, Washington's Pentagon, and when a hijacked plane en route to Washington crashed in Shanksville, Penn.

In Tifton, the Exchange Club and the Rotary Club joined to host a ceremony at Tifton's main fire station, where a "field of flags" were placed in memory of those who died as a result of the atatcks.

John Curtis Falotico was the guest speaker at Tifton's ceremony. The local businessman and pastor at Enigma Baptist Church, is also a U.S. Army veteran. He told the audience that 9/11 is important to remember because of the fallen, because of its lessons to remain vigilant, and because of the unity it fostered in the country.

The Tifton Fire Department Honor Guard handled the posting of the colors, and a firefighter tolled a bell in remembrance. Local first responders and those in the military were recognized.

Prayers were offered for the country, and the audience joined in singing "America the Beautiful."

WOMAN CHARGED IN SHOOTING DEATH INVOLVING 5-YR-OLD HOLDING FIREARM

Tifton Grapevine Staff Reports

Authorities have charged a woman in the death of a teenager shot in October by a five-year-old holding a firearm in Tifton.

Keyonna Dean, 22, has been arrested and charged with one felony count of involuntary manslaughter and a misdemeanor count of reckless conduct, authorities said.

On the evening of Oct. 12, Tifton Police responded to the 1100 block of Central Avenue South regarding a gunshot victim. Officers found a 16-year-old male with a gunshot wound, who was transported to the hospital but later died, police said.

Police and the GBI determined that the shooting occurred at the South Central Avenue residence and resulted from a five-year-old holding a firearm.

TIFTON POLICE ID SUSPECTS IN RECENT AUTO BREAK-INS

Tifton Grapevine Staff Reports

Tifton Police have arrested one man and have issued an arrest warrant for another in connection with a series of recent auto break-ins.

Eugene King, 35, of Tifton is charged with three counts of unlawfully entering a motor vehicle with the intent to commit a theft or another felony, one count of party to a crime of entering auto, and one count of financial transaction card fraud, Tifton Police said.

 Police have identified a second suspect, who is still at large.

The two suspects have been identified in relation to multiple cases of entering autos during the last weeks of August and first week of September. Tifton Police said it recently received an increased number of entering-auto reports involving vehicles parked on Belmont Avenue, Old Ocilla Road, and Tift Avenue North.

Tifton police detectives identified the suspects during an investigation including canvassing and reviewing video surveillance tapes.

The Tifton Police Department reminds residents to hide valuables from sight in parked vehicles, lock vehicle doors, stay vigilant, and report any suspicious activity.

Anyone with information relating to the auto cases is asked to contact Tifton Police at 229-382-3132 or submit an anonymous tip to Tip411.

TIFT BOE OFFERS TEMPORARY TAX RELIEF TO TIMBER OWNERS WITH HURRICANE DAMAGE

Tifton Grapevine Staff Reports

The Tift County Board of Education (BOE) has approved a resolution to provide temporary property tax relief for timberland owners whose property was damaged during Hurricane Helene.

The resolution, effective this month, is aimed at supporting the agricultural and timber industries, offering eligible landowners a way to ease financial burdens while they continue to recover and rebuild. the BOE said.

“When our landowners suffer setbacks, it affects our whole community. This resolution ensures that we are doing our part to support recovery efforts and provide much-needed relief to families and businesses who depend on this industry,” said Superintendent Natalie Gore. 

Eligible timberland owners should contact the Tift County Tax Commissioner’s Office or visit the Georgia Forestry Commission website to complete the required certification form. Relief will be granted only after the form is submitted and validated, in line with state guidelines, the school system said.

SRTC SEES RECORD GROWTH IN ENROLLMENT

Tifton Grapevine Staff Reports

Southern Regional Technical College (SRTC) has an increase in enrollment for the 10th consecutive semester since fall 2022, the college reports. The college is experiencing its largest fall-semester enrollment ever.

SRTC's total enrollment for the current semester is 5,944, up from the 2024 fall enrollment of 5,324. The 11.6% growth is over the Technical College System of Georgia's average of 8.4% growth, the college said.

SRTC also saw a 14.9% increase in full time equivalent enrollment from fall 2024 to fall 2025, above the system average of 9.2%.

President Jim Glass credits the college's growth to the combined efforts of faculty and staff.

"Our faculty members are committed to providing the kind of high-quality education that is required in our service delivery area," Glass said. "Before an individual can become a successful graduate, however, they must first become a successful student. Our staff frequently go far above and beyond for our students, assisting and supporting them every step of the way."

In March 2022, Glass introduced an enrollment campaign "#GimmeFive" to all employees. The objective is to serve as a reminder that all employees play an active role in meeting and exceeding a 5% enrollment growth target.

SRTC has added 35 new programs in the past three years to address the evolving demands of industries and to equip students with skills needed for current job markets.The college has also seen a 12.5% growth during the past year in dual enrollment of high school students.

TIFTON ARTIST McCALL INVITED

TO SAVANNAH COMPETITION

By BONNIE SAYLES

Tifton Grapevine

Tifton artist Jennifer Buckley McCall is one of 30 artists from throughout the state and the only one from South Georgia invited to participate in the Seventh Annual Georgia Color Plein Air Competition in Savannah from Oct. 14-19.

McCall will be painting two to three paintings every day at various locations around Savannah. Each day she will frame the paintings and exhibit them with the other artists’ paintings in a “wet gallery” where collectors will view them each evening. 

“Some days we’ll have some areas they will suggest, like 'Best of River Street,'” McCall said. “They’ll have awards for those areas. Other than that, we’ll have carte blanche to paint where we want, whether nocturnes, night scenes, the marsh.”

Among locations she's considering painting include Tybee Island and “right in the heart of downtown in the historical areas,” she said, “or the graveyard even. I’m excited.”

McCall is a professional fine artist based in Tifton, known for her rural landscapes and signature style of Romantic Realism, according to competition sponsor Olmstead Arts. With a bachelor's degree in graphic design and painting from Wesleyan College, McCall spent two decades as a designer before returning full-time to her first love – painting. 

An award-winning artist and experienced instructor, she works in oil, pastel, watercolor, and acrylic, often taking her easel outdoors to capture the Southern landscape en plein air. McCall is a member of the American Impressionist Society, Oil Painters of America, and the National Oil & Acrylic Painters' Society.

COOK ELEMENTARY RENOVATES MEDIA CENTER TO AID LITERACY

In photo at left, students read in the new "treehouse" constructed within the school's revamped media center.

Tifton Grapevine Staff Reports

Cook Elementary School in Sparks has totally revamped its media center to help boost literacy for local young people in an enhanced learning environment.

The media center is redesigned to encourage student engagement, including a "treehouse" where students can climb and read books. The renovation also has multiple educational tools and cutting-edge technology to aid learning.

The school's newly updated media center was possible through Georgia's Literacy for Learning, Living, and Leading grant program. The object is to better encourage learning and help make it fun for young students.

'SCARECROWS ON MAIN'

RETURNING FOR FIFTH YEAR

By BONNIE SAYLES

Tifton Grapevine

The change of season brings cooler air, beautiful leaves, and the return of one of Tifton’s favorite events – Downtown Tifton's Scarecrows on Main Contest, says Main Street Manager Hillery Culpepper. 

“This year, we will be celebrating the fifth year of hosting this beloved community event, and we hope you will join in on the fun to make it the best year,” Culpepper said. 

The contest allows any business, club, family, or organization to create a scarecrow illustrating whatever message they want to convey. The scarecrow is attached via string or zip ties to an assigned light pole on Main Street and its side streets from U.S. Highway 82 to Fourth Street. Participating businesses do not have to be located in the downtown district. 

Registrations are being taken now through Friday, Sept. 26. Light poles for securing the scarecrows are assigned on a first-come, first-served basis.

Installation will begin Sept. 26 and should be completed by Sept. 30. Scarecrows should be between 4 and 7 feet and should not obscure foot traffic on sidewalks. 

They will be on display from Oct. 1-Nov. 1. Voting on the best scarecrows will take place on the Downtown Tifton Facebook page Oct. 1-noon Oct. 10. Winners will be announced and awarded on Oct. 11 during Downtown Tifton’s October Spooky Second Saturday event.

“Let's rally together to make our downtown community absolutely magical during this fall season,” Culpepper said. “We cannot wait to see your creativity come to life through your scarecrows.” 

To register, Click here!

SYLVESTER ELECTRIC CUSTOMERS GETTING ONE-TIME REBATE

Tifton Grapevine Staff Reports

The City of Sylvester announced Wednesday that City Council has approved a one-time $50 rebate for its electric utility customers.

The rebate, for both residential and commercial customers, will be issued as a deduction on electric bills.

The city serves more than 3,300 electric customers.

In a letter to customers, City Manager Chris Davis wrote that the “mayor and council value each one of our citizens and wish to show their appreciation by issuing this one-time rebate for all.”

Depending on their electric billing cycle, Sylvester customers will see the deduction either on their October, November, or December bill.

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YOUR GUIDE

TO ACTIVITIES

THIS WEEKEND

IN THE GREATER TIFTAREA

Saturday, Sept. 13, is National Peanut Day. Georgia is the No. 1 peanut-producing state, growing more than 50% of the peanuts produced in the U.S. The peanut is Georgia's official state crop and is a $2 billion industry in the state, according to the Georgia Peanut Commission. Peanuts are actually legumes, not tree nuts, and are a good source of protein, with no part of the plant going to waste. Peanuts are popular around the globe – and even on the moon, where Apollo astronauts took them.

FRIDAY, SEPT. 12

• Homeschool Hangout: Solar System Exploration, 11 a.m., Tifton-Tift County Public Library, Tifton

• Tift County High Blue Devils football @ Houston County High Bears, 7:30 p.m., Warner Robins

• Tiftarea Academy Panthers football vs. Westfield School Hornets, 7:30 p.m., Panther Pit, Chula

• Irwin County High Indians football @ Dooly County High Bobcats, 7:30 p.m., Vienna

• Fitzgerald High Purple Hurricane vs. Brooks County High Trojans, 7:30 pm., Fitzgerald

• Cook County High Hornets football @ Cairo High Syrupmakers, 7:30 p.m., Cairo

• Turner County High Titans vs. Wilcox County High Patriots, 7:30 p.m., Ashburn

SATURDAY, SEPT. 13

• Tifton Second Saturday, storewide specials, sip & stroll, all-day; Downtown Tifton

• Community Garden Volunteer Day, 9-11 a.m., 1415 Central Ave., Tifton

• ThunderCon at ABAC, pop culture convention with Power Rangers actor Jessica Rey, numerous voice actors, comic-book artists, and cosplay guests; 10 a.m.-6 p.m., Gressette Gymnasium, Abraham Baldwin Agriculture College, Tifton

• Miss Fiesta del Pueblo Beauty Pageant, 6-9 p.m., Tift Theatre for the Performing Arts, Tifton

• Ten Mile Bay in concert, 7-9 p.m., Donatello's Courtyard, Main Street, Tifton

SUNDAY, SEPT. 14

• Kraken Pro-Wrestling, 4 p.m., Chino and Letty's Place, 102 W. 3rd St., Tifton

• Marketing for Artists, adult class, registration required; 5:30 p.m., Syd Blackmarr Arts Center, 255 Love Ave., Tifton

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Cinco is a looker, a charmer, and a happy boy who is always ready for fun. He was found as a stray and is now ready for a sweet life in a new home.  Visit Cinco and see 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).

Tifton Grapevine

e-published every Tuesday and Friday

Frank Sayles Jr.

Editor & Publisher

Bonnie Sayles

Managing Editor

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