Friday, Jan. 12, 2024
Tifton, Georgia
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Farm Monitor video
Tifton's Peanut Butter & Jesus community ministry was recently featured on the Georgia Farm Monitor television show, and the segment was given wider distribution on RFD-TV.
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TIFTON PB&J
'PEANUT BUTTER & JESUS' SPREADS TO OTHER STATES
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By FRANK SAYLES JR.
Tifton Grapevine
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Tifton's Peanut Butter & Jesus is spreading to other communities, and that could accelerate after the community ministry was recently featured on both the Georgia Farm Monitor television show and on the RFD-TV network.
There are 35 to 40 other chapters around the United States now in Georgia, Oklahoma, Texas, Kentucky, Louisiana, and Florida, says Tony McBrayer, chief financial officer of Tifton's Peanut Butter & Jesus. "It's my dream that maybe one day even another country would start up a chapter of Peanut Butter & Jesus," he said.
The local ministry, begun in 2017, provides a sack lunch with an inspirational message to hungry children and families every Saturday in Tift County. The lunches include a peanut butter and jelly sandwich, a snack, a juice, and a Bible-based message, oftentimes in cartoon form to get children's attention. Volunteers pack and deliver the lunches to needy families. The familiar lime-green vans can be spotted in neighborhoods across the county.
McBrayer told the Tifton Grapevine that the Peanut Butter & Jesus groups in other communities are part of a "loose affiliation; we have created a Start-Up Guide that we share with others interested in starting the ministry in their community. After they review the guide and decide to start a PB&J chapter, then we share our logos with them as well.
"However, each chapter operates independently, meaning that they are responsible for their own funding and frequency of operation," such as once or twice per month or every Saturday, McBrayer said.
The "Farm Monitor" television program, produced by the Georgia Farm Bureau Federation, has been broadcast for more than 50 years. In a promotion for the PB&J televised segment, it notes that the Farm Monitor's "Ray D’Alessio takes us on a heart-warming journey through Tifton, where bright green vans bring more than just smiles: How an unconventional ministry is making a difference, one bagged lunch at a time."
Tifton's PB&J ministry started when the minister of Pineview Holiness Baptist Church on Union Road spotted two vans painted with Peanut Butter & Jesus and parked in Lakeland with grass growing around them. He discovered that it was an outreach ministry that was discontinued when it lost its volunteers. The owners offered to give the vans to Tifton if it wanted to resuscitate the ministry.
PB&J began in September 2017 in Tifton distributing 140 lunch bags. Today, the local non-denominational ministry distributes more than 1,800 bag lunches each Saturday with the aid of volunteers from local churches, businesses, civic organizations, and school groups.
According to Tifton's PB&J, the federal government measures the poverty rate in Tift County at 40%, and some local officials believe it is much higher.
"Many parents do not have the funds to properly feed their children or are unwilling to spend available funds to feed their children. For school-aged children, our bags will help to curb weekend hunger," the ministry says.
For those interested in volunteering or donating to Peanut Butter & Jesus in Tift County, call McBrayer at 229-392-7774 or email him at tony@peanutbutterjesus.org
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WINDY WEATHER RETURNS; BIG CHILL COMING NEXT WEEK | |
By FRANK SAYLES JR.
Tifton Grapevine
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High winds could return today (Friday) throughout South Georgia but are expected to be less severe than Tuesday's storms, which spawned suspected tornadoes in several Georgia counties.
On Thursday, the National Weather Service (NWS) updated its forecast for today and said the threat of severe weather has been downgraded. However, the NWS expects the Greater Tiftarea to see thunderstorms and wind gusts up to 40 mph.
"Gusty winds could blow around unsecured objects. Tree limbs could be blown down and a few power outages may result," the Weather Service said. "After last Tuesday's strong winds and severe storms, some trees and limbs will be more vulnerable, resulting in a lower wind speed threshold than typical for damage. This could result in additional power outages."
The higher winds are expected beginning at approximately 10 a.m., and the wind advisory will be in effect into the evening.
Friday's high temperature is expected to be 69 degrees but an arctic chill is coming next week. On Tuesday, the NWS predicts the high in Tifton will be 49 degrees with a low of 22. On Wednesday, the forecast high is 43 with an overnight low of 27 degrees.
Residents are encouraged to prepare for the below-freezing temperatures by wrapping outdoor water pipes and ensuring that pets are indoors.
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TIFTON POLICE SEEK HELP IN LOCATING MISSING JUVENILES | |
Tifton Grapevine Staff Reports | |
Tifton Police has asked the public to be on the lookout for two male teenagers missing since Saturday.
At approximately 11:30 a.m. Saturday during a supervised visit with the Georgia Division of Family & Children Services (DFCS) and a family member, Bryson Coggins, 16, and Preston Coggins, 13, left the Tifton Mall and have not been seen since, police said.
Bryson was last seen wearing a red and black jacket with matching pants and red shoes; Preston was last seen wearing a black hoodie, a black hat, and slide sandals.
"If you have any information about the whereabouts of the juveniles, please contact the Tifton Police Department at 229-382-3132, Detective Justin Hutchinson," police said.
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TIFT TAX COMMISSIONER OFFERS LOCAL TAX TIPS | |
By BONNIE SAYLES
Tifton Grapevine
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Chad Alexander, Tift County tax commissioner, shared on Wednesday with the Tifton Rotary Club several tips that property owners need to know concerning taxes.
For example, if someone buys a vehicle or even gives one away to a family member, they need a bill of sale to get a license tag when they go to the tag office in the Tift County Administration Building on Tift Avenue.
“The No. 1 thing I want you to know,” he said, “is if you buy a vehicle, trailer or anything, get a bill of sale. I don’t care if it has a title, get a bill of sale.”
His employees often cannot issue a tag for a vehicle because it doesn’t have a bill of sale. It can be hand-written and signed and dated. Even if a vehicle is given to someone, it needs a bill of sale with the price of zero, in order to receive tags in the tag office.
Vehicles that are 25 years and older are valued at $100 for tax purposes, no matter how much was paid for the vehicle. One from 1985 and older doesn’t require a title to get a tag.
Alexander also said that when giving or selling a vehicle to a direct relative, such as a brother, sister, parent, son or daughter – a “lineal relative” – there is a reduced tax rate, a half-percent on the fair market value, rather than 7%.
Another important issue he wants everyone to know, he said, is if somebody cancels car insurance on a vehicle for any reason, they have 10 days to cancel that vehicle’s tag with the tag office or be billed $25.
“The state doesn’t know you aren’t driving around without insurance,” Alexander said, “which is against the law. If you don’t pay the $25, it goes to $85, and the car’s registration is cancelled.
“If you call up there and you have the tag number, we can do it over the phone.”
Alexander said he constantly walks the halls outside his office to hear what people are saying after they complete their tax business and asks them if they were satisfied with the service.
“If there’s an issue, I try to get it resolved immediately. If you want to find me, come out in the hall – that’s where I’ll be,” he said.
Tag renewals are due on the car owner’s birthday, Alexander said, because it’s the one day that everyone should be able to remember. The county voluntarily sends notices to Tift County residents 59 days before the payment is due.
He referred a question about recent reassessment of properties to Rotarian Dr. Jeff Gibbs, a member of the Tift County Board of Assessors. Gibbs said that the 90,000 properties in the county have been undergoing reassessment.
“Two or three people have been visiting every property in the county,” Gibbs said. It is the first time in 20 years that property values have been reassessed, so the value of the properties will increase, he said.
The city and county are required to rollback millage rates to prevent a substantial increase in taxes after values increase significantly. Letters about the new assessed value will go out this summer, Gibbs said.
| COLONY BANK DONATES $400,000 TO RURAL GEORGIA HOSPITALS | |
Tifton Grapevine Staff Reports | |
Colony Bank says its recent $400,000 contribution to 10 rural hospitals through the Georgia HEART Hospital Program will help amplify healthcare funding and promote community well-being.
The Georgia HEART program supports rural hospitals by increasing their funding and ability to provide healthcare to Georgia patients.
“We’re grateful to be able to participate in the Georgia HEART program. It provides a wonderful opportunity to reinvest in the communities where many of our team members and customers reside," said Heath Fountain, Colony's chief executive officer.
"With this contribution, we’re able to give back to the participating hospitals in our markets and ultimately contribute to the improvement of healthcare delivery in our communities.”
The 10 hospitals each receiving a $40,000 donation from Colony Bank are Tift Regional Medical Center (Tifton), Dorminy Medical Center (Fitzgerald), Phoebe Worth Medical Center (Sylvester), Brooks County Hospital (Quitman), Coffee Regional Medical Center (Douglas), Colquitt Regional Medical Center (Moultrie), Crisp Regional Hospital (Cordele), Dodge County Hospital (Eastman), Polk Medical Center (Cedartown), and Upson Regional Medical Center (Thomaston).
“Colony Bank is making a meaningful, positive impact on communities across Georgia. Their engagement in this valuable program is elevating the quality of healthcare and improving access to services where it is much needed. We are grateful for their investment in this important opportunity,” said Lisa Kelly, executive director of the Georgia HEART Hospital Program.
Since 2022, Colony Bank has contributed a total of $900,000 to rural hospitals through the Georgia HEART program.
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NOMINATIONS NOW OPEN FOR ROTARY ETHICS IN BUSINESS AWARD | |
Tifton Grapevine Staff Reports | |
Do you know of a business that operates fairly and ethically in Tift County and is community-oriented? Nominate it for the Rotary Ethics in Business Award sponsored by the Rotary Club of Tifton.
Nominations must be received by Jan. 19. Rotarians will present the award during the Tifton-Tift County Chamber of Commerce's annual banquet Feb. 1.
Ethics and business are at the core of Rotary International, so it is fitting that the Rotary Club of Tifton established the Tifton Rotary Ethics in Business Award to recognize a local business that has demonstrated exceptional ethical behavior.
The Tifton Rotary Club initiated the annual award in 2013 as part of the club's 75th anniversary celebration.
“This annual award represents the basic values of Rotary and is a way for our Rotary Club to publicly recognize those businesses that adhere to high ethical standards as they serve our community,” said Frank Sayles Jr., who was president of the Tifton Rotary Club when the award was established.
“We have many fine businesses in Tift County that contribute to our area’s well-being and that help make Tifton the excellent community that it is today.”
Tifton Rotary Club board members selected the criteria for the award, which will go to a business physically located in Tifton or Tift County.
The nominated business must have consistently demonstrated high ethical standards of honesty and integrity in dealing with employees, customers, and contractors while enhancing the economic well-being of the company and providing local jobs, opportunity and profits.
In addition, the business must have participated in activities beneficial to the community beyond the provision of economic benefits of the business and must adhere to fair and truthful business practice reflected in the Rotary 4-Way Test: Is it the truth?; Is it fair to all concerned?; Will it build goodwill and better friendship?; and Will it be beneficial to all concerned?
Past awards have recognized such local businesses as Central Jewelry, Curtis Packing Co., McAlpin Entertainment, Kelley Manufacturing Co., Lang Printing Co., The Howard Center, and Cole's Cakery.
Nomination applications are posted below and on the Tifton Rotary Club's Facebook page. They may be emailed to tiftonrotary@gmail.com or mailed to the Tifton Rotary Club, P.O. Box 1354, Tifton, Ga. 31793 (attn: Rotary Ethics in Business Award).
They must be received by Jan. 19.
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TIFTON ARTS COUNCIL SAYS
GOODBYE TO EXECUTIVE DIRECTOR
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Tifton Grapevine Staff Reports | |
Joy Yost pulls the rope ringing the bell in the Syd Blackmarr Arts Center, bidding farewell to her time as executive director of the Tifton Council for the Arts.
Last Friday, the Arts Council held a reception honoring Yost for her eight years of service.On Monday, she began a new job as executive director of Moultrie's Arts Center.
Tifton Arts Council Board President Cindy Hammond wished Yost well in her new position.
“Her enthusiasm, dedication and energy took us to where we’ve grown to now,” Hammond said. “I thank you for how far you’ve brought us. We are going to miss you very, very much. Moultrie is getting a jewel.”
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TIFTON-TIFT COUNTY CHAMBER OF COMMERCE RIBBON CUTTING | |
Tifton’s Locally Owned Digital Newspaper | |
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COVID-19 data released from the
Georgia Department of Public Health (DPH) as of Jan. 10:
TOTAL TIFT COUNTY CASES: 7,168 ....................................... TOTAL TIFT DEATHS: 181
CONFIRMED TIFT CASES - 2 weeks: 19 ....................................... DEATHS - Past week: 0
CONFIRMED & SUSPECTED CASES: 74
TIFT CONFIRMED & SUSPECTED CASES - 2 weeks, per 100K population: 181
_______________________________________________________________
GEORGIA TOTAL CASES: 2,426,868
GEORGIA CONFIRMED & SUSPECTED CASES - Past week: 8,190
TOTAL GA DEATHS: 36,063 ..................................................... GA DEATHS - Past week: 30
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YOUR GUIDE
TO ACTIVITIES
THIS WEEKEND
IN THE TIFTAREA
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Sunday, Jan. 14, is International Kite Day, a perfect day to go fly a kite. It’s believed the kite was invented in China during the 28th century B.C., and the first kites were made of leaves. By the 1700s, kites were popular in North America; everyone knows the tale about Benjamin Franklin demonstrating in 1752 that lightning is electricity with the aid of a kite. During the Civil War, kites were used to carry mail and newspapers across battle lines. And when the Wright brothers began developing the first airplane in the late 1800s, they studied kites.
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FRIDAY, JAN. 12
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Tift County High Girls Basketball @ Northside High, 6 p.m., Warner Robins
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Tift County High Boys Basketball @ Northside High, 7:30 p.m., Warner Robins
SATURDAY, JAN. 13
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Downtown Tifton's Second Saturday, 10 a.m., Downtown Tifton
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Tift County High Girls Basketball vs. Lee County, 6 p.m., TCHS, Tifton
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Tift County High Boys Basketball vs. Lee County, 7:30 p.m., TCHS, Tifton
SUNDAY, JAN. 14
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Water & Wood Exhibit (opening reception), 2-4 p.m., Syd Blackmarr Arts Center, Tifton
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ADVERTISE 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
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TIFTON GRAPEVINE'S DOG OF THE WEEK | |
"Rosalynn" is a well-mannered and poised pup with a calm and gentle demeanor. Visit her 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). | |
JAN. 2
Richard Alan “Buddy” Gaskins, 72, Nashville
Larry Gene Latham, 84, Tifton
Carole Strother Rawlins, 86, Fitzgerald
John Buford Chapman Jr., 88, Sylvester
JAN. 3
Raymond Moore lll, 47, Tifton
Robin Anita Dean, 53, Abbeville
Betty Jean Barber Section, 78, Ashburn
JAN. 4
Marvin "Paul" Denson, 69, Tifton
Robert Lee Kirkland, 74, Tifton
Richard Wilson “Dick” Kitchens, 75, Tifton
Michael Steverson, 47, Tifton
JAN. 5
Nathan Custer Snyder, 95, Sylvester
Linson Fort, 73, Nashville
Susie Bell Sears Smith, 91, Chula
Tim Dixon, 60, Adel
JAN. 6
Jimmy Clark Watson Sr., 73, Tifton
Rose Marie Stevens, 62, Ty Ty
JAN. 8
Christine Proctor Wood, 85, Crosland
Ed Alex “Beau” Dix, 35, Fitzgerald
Ruthie Ezell, 57, Nashville
Burdette Moore, 75, Adel
Melaine Byron, 48, Adel
Junie M. Wilson, 80, Tifton
JAN. 9
Judy Jones McKee, 79, Tifton
Deborah Buchanan, 70, Adel
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JAN. 10
Loyd Wayne Fletcher, 74, Fitzgerald
Connie M. Sumner, 65, Fitzgerald
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Tifton Grapevine
e-published every Tuesday and Friday
Frank Sayles Jr.
Editor & Publisher
Bonnie Sayles
Managing Editor
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A Service of Sayles Unlimited Marketing LLC, Tifton, Georgia
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