Tifton Stars in New York

NOV. 24, 2017

Tifton, Georgia

478-227-7126

tiftongrapevine.com

90th ANNUAL PARADE HAS A TOUCH OF TIFTON

Tifton -- and South Georgia -- were well represented at New York City's Macy's Thanksgiving Day Parade on Thursday:


	Members of the Carolyn Ellis dance troupe.

Local dancers from the Carolyn Ellis School of Dance in Tifton performed as part of the Spirit of America Dance Stars.

Kendall and Mary Grace Lacy, daughters of the Rev. Lonnie and Jay Lacy of Tifton, were on the Ocean Spray Cranberry float in the parade with singer Patti Labelle.

Craig Mark Wells, Tifton native, former teacher in Tift County schools and now New York resident, was part of the "singing Christmas tree" float,


	The Lacy Family

performing a song that happened to have been written by Wesley Whatley of Valdosta.

And other Tiftonites and South Georgians were in the New York audience watching the parade.

Wells said afterward, "That was one absolutely fantastic experience."

Craig Mark Wells, left, singing in the parade.

NO DAMAGES AWARDED IN

TIFTON PEDESTRIAN DEATH

A wrongful death trial, involving a Tifton pedestrian death in which $20 million in damages were sought, ended this week with the jury awarding zero.

The Gwinnett County State Court jury's verdict assigned 50 percent of the fault to both the driver and the pedestrian, which means no damages are awarded, The Daily Report of Atlanta reported.

Brandon P. Lanier, 31, of Tifton, died after being struck by a truck shortly after 8 a.m. Friday, April 11, 2014, while he was crossing in the pedestrian crosswalk at the intersection of U.S. Highway 41 (South Main Street) and U.S. Highway 82 in Tifton.

According to witnesses, Lanier apparently began crossing when the crosswalk's flashing orange hand began lighting up to denote the time to walk is ending.

According to the Tifton Police report of the incident, Riley Jake Hulsey, 26, of


	RILEY JAKE HULSEY

Alapaha, said when he was stopped his truck at the intersection's red light, he looked both directions. As traffic cleared for him to make a right turn, he accelerated and then struck Lanier.

Hulsey was arrested and charged with second-degree homicide by vehicle and failure to yield when entering or crossing roadway. Those charges are still pending, according to The Daily Report.

At the time of the incident, Hulsey was working for soil fumigation chemical company TriEst Ag Group . According to Courtroom View Network, lawyers for the plaintiffs claimed Hulsey was rushing to find supplies needed for a time-sensitive TriEst shipment before the crash.

Defense lawyers, however, contended that Lanier waited too long before crossing and did not begin to cross the intersection until the orange warning sign was flashing on the signal box, the Courtroom View Network reported.

Church Pianist

Position

Tifton First United

Methodist Church

107 W 12th St., Tifton, GA

Tifton First United Methodist Church has an opening for a church pianist. This is a part-

time position.

The pianist is responsible for preparing for and practicing with the chancel choir, orchestra and ensemble every Wednesday evening for about two hours and for playing at Sunday traditional services at 9 a.m. and 11 a.m., as well at special services at Christmas, Easter, etc.

Interested persons should contact Angie Carr at musicdirector@tiftonfumc.org or at

229-382-6100.

'RUN FOR THE KIDS'

SET FOR DEC. 2

The 13th annual Kiwanis Run for the Kids 5K/one-mile run/walk/bike is at 1 p.m. Saturday, Dec. 2, at the Spurlin/Sertoma baseball fields (near the Tifton Fire

Station at 403 Forrest Ave.) in Tifton.

Four cash prizes will be awarded to the fastest runners in two categories. Team/family (three-member minimum) prizes will be awarded to the fastest and the best Christmas costume/theme.

Early entry fee is $20 for adults; $10 for children, with teams getting $5 off per team by today, Nov. 25.

Children completing one mile get medallions. Christmas gifts are available to other participants, as well as T-shirts.

To register, visit Active.com or tiftonkiwanis.org

'A CHRISTMAS TO REMEMBER'

FREE CONCERT ON DEC. 5

Music from the students at Abraham Baldwin Agricultural College will help to usher in the spirit of the season with "A Christmas to Remember" at 7 p.m. Dec. 5 at the Tift Theatre in downtown Tifton. The event is free and open to the public.

Dr. Susan Roe, head of the ABAC Department of Fine Arts, said the holiday concert has been held annually for years. It is a part of the First Tuesday Concert Series. The event is being moved from the Chapel of All Faiths on the ABAC campus this year to the Tift Theatre to allow more room for the community.

Dr. Andy Lagrimas, assistant professor of piano and theory, opens the evening with a prelude followed by a Christmas fanfare by ABAC's trumpet ensemble. Performers also include the ABAC Jazz Singers, Concert Choir, and Chamber Choir under the direction of Roe; the Concert Band under the direction of Johnny Folsom; and the Jazz Ensemble under the direction of Dr. Thomas Heflin.

Country Living at its Finest!

2448 Chula Brookfield Road

Tifton, GA 31793

Price: $399,000

O n just over 6 acres, this home has so much to offer. You will enjoy the peaceful country setting complete with a large pond for fishing, in-ground pool and covered porch with an outdoor kitchen.

The pool house is attached to the main house and is complete with a bedroom, bath with tiled, walk-in shower and kitchen. This 4 bedroom, 3 1/2 bath home has beautiful hardwood floors, granite countertops, crown molding and so much more!

Make your appointment to see this gorgeous home today!

Jordan Pope

229-386-8737

CASA PLAYHOUSES POP UP

ALONG LOVE AVENUE

WINNING TICKETS TO BE DRAWN AT HOMETOWN HOLIDAYS

Coastal Plain CASA's annual Playhouse Fundraiser to benefit the community's foster children is underway. Five playhouses have been built and donated, and $10 tickets are available at various locations around town.

The drawing for the winning tickets will be at 7:30 p.m. Dec. 2 during Tifton's Hometown Holiday Christmas Celebration.

The playhouses can be viewed in front of First Baptist Church on Love Avenue. All proceeds from the ticket sales go toward Coastal Plain CASA ( Court Appointed Special Advocates) for children in foster care.

BAINBRIDGE STATE TRANSFER TO SRTC

PROPOSED FOR NEXT JULY

Shortly after the calendar flipped into 2017, the Board of Regents of the University System of Georgia approved the consolidation of Bainbridge State College (BSC) and Abraham Baldwin Agricultural College (ABAC).

And not long after that approval was finalized, Southern Regional Technical College (SRTC) was asked to assume responsibility for the technical programs being offered by BSC.

During discussions with the University System of Georgia to transfer the technical


CRAIG WENTWORTH

programs to SRTC, it became apparent that it would be in the best interest of the students, USG, the Technical College System of Georgia (TCSG) and the state of Georgia to not only transfer the programs, but to also transfer the ownership and operations of the Bainbridge campus.

The largest need for instructional space on the campus was for technical programs. The transfer is proposed for a July 2018 date and is contingent upon necessary approvals by the regional accrediting agency and the retirement of BSC's public private venture capital liabilities.

What does this mean for the affected communities? According to Dr. Craig Wentworth, SRTC president, it translates to growth opportunities.

"This is an excellent opportunity for Southern Regional to reach out to the community of Bainbridge and adjacent areas to promote and expand technical training and education in order to meet area business and industry workforce development needs. In turn, this should help with economic development. We are very excited about this opportunity and look forward to working with ABAC and other partners to serve Bainbridge and nearby communities."

SRTC administration says the move is an opportunity to expand the existing technical division currently housed at BSC, and that the combination of those technical programs and the baccalaureate and associate degree programs offered by ABAC will provide exceptional academic opportunities for area students.

Though many folks are familiar with the technical and occupational programs provided by TCSG institutions, most outside of the college aren't aware of the many degree courses that can transfer to four-year colleges and universities.